The Brisbane River ([Turrball]: Meeannjin, or informally Maiwar) is the longest river in South-East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea.

 

Before European settlement, the Brisbane River was spiritually important and a vital food source for the Aboriginal people of the Turrbal people, primarily through fishing in the tidal sections downstream, with fishing and firestick farming in the upper reaches where there was freshwater, depending on the season.

 

Four European navigators, namely James Cook, Matthew Flinders, John Bingle and William Edwardson, all visited Moreton Bay but failed to discover the river. The exploration by Flinders took place during his expedition from Port Jackson north to Hervey Bay in 1799. He spent a total of 15 days in the area, touching down at Woody Point and several other spots, but failed to discover the mouth of the river although there were suspicions of its existence. This is consistent with accounts of many other rivers along the east coast of Australia, which could not be found by seaward exploration but were discovered by inland travellers.

 

On 21 March 1823, four ticket-of-leave convicts sailing south from Sydney on a timber getting mission to Illawarra, Thomas Pamphlett, John Finnegan, Richard Parsons and John Thompson were blown north by a storm. They went 21 days without water, continuing north in the belief they had been blown south, during which time Thompson died. They landed on Moreton Island on 16 April and made it to the mainland on the south of the Brisbane River. They immediately began trekking north in order to return to Sydney, still believing themselves to be somewhere south of Jervis Bay.

 

Subsequently, they became the first known Europeans to discover the river, stumbling across it somewhere near the entrance. They walked upstream along its banks for nearly a month before making their first crossing at 'Canoe Reach', the junction of Oxley Creek. It was here they stole a small canoe left by the Turrbal people of the region.

 

John Oxley, the first European to explore the river, named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane in 1823. The penal colony of Moreton Bay later adopted the same name, eventually becoming the present city of Brisbane. The river is a tidal estuary and the water is brackish from its mouth through the majority of the Brisbane metropolitan area westward to the Mount Crosby Weir. The river is wide and navigable throughout the Brisbane metropolitan area.

 

The river travels 344 km (214 mi) from Mount Stanley. The river is dammed by the Wivenhoe Dam, forming Lake Wivenhoe, the main water supply for Brisbane. The waterway is a habitat for the rare Queensland lungfish, Brisbane River cod (extinct), and bull sharks.

 

Early travellers along the waterway admired the natural beauty, abundant fish and rich vegetation along its banks. From 1862 the Brisbane River has been dredged for navigation purposes. The river served as an important carriageway between Brisbane and Ipswich before a railway linking the towns was built in 1875. By the late 1920s, water quality in the river had significantly deteriorated.

 

Multiple major floods occurred in 1893. In 1974, the most damaging flood on record occurred, causing the 66,000-tonne vessel Robert Miller (largest ship ever built on the river) to break free from its mooring. Another major flood occurred in January 2011.

 

Extensive port facilities have been constructed on the Fisherman Islands, now known as the Port of Brisbane, located at the mouth of the river on Moreton Bay. There are 16 major bridges that cross the river. The Clem Jones Tunnel, opened in 2010, is the river's first underground crossing for road transport. The CityCat ferry service collects and delivers passengers along the inner-city reaches of the river.

 

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_River

 

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Brisbane's recorded history dates from 1799, when Matthew Flinders explored Moreton Bay on an expedition from Port Jackson, although the region had long been occupied by the Yugara and Turrbal aboriginal groups. First Nations Australians lived in coastal South East Queensland (SEQ) for at least 22,000 years, with an estimated population between 6,000 and 10,000 individuals before European settlers arrived in the 1820s.

 

At this time the Brisbane area was inhabited by the Turrbal people, (Turrbal also being the name of the language they spoke) who knew the area that is now the central business district as Mian-jin, meaning "place shaped as a spike". Archaeological evidence suggests frequent habitation around the Brisbane River, and notably at the site now known as Musgrave Park.

 

The first convict jail was built in Redcliffe in 1824 and that was moved to the site of the present-day CBD in 1825. Officials believed the natural bend in the river provided an effective barrier against escape.

 

Its suitability for fishing, farming, timbering, and other occupations, however, caused it to be opened to free settlement in 1838. Civilian occupation of the area began in 1842, and by the late 1880s Brisbane became the main site for commerce, and the capital-to-be began to develop distinct architectural features and culture.

 

With an abundance of sunshine and laid-back lifestyle, Brisbane quickly drew people eager to settle in its environs. The city grew steadily over the years and a turning point in its advancement was during World War II when it housed the main allied headquarters in the South Pacific for Australian and American service personnel.

 

The post-war population boom brought a spurt in industry and Brisbane staked a claim as the third-largest city in Australia.

 

Despite its rapid progress, Brisbane was often seen as lagging culturally behind Sydney and Melbourne. But two landmark events in the 1980s brought about a major change and accelerated Brisbane towards Australia’s new world city it is today.

 

The Commonwealth Games came to Brisbane in 1982, and this resulted in a massive injection of new infrastructure and sporting facilities. Then the eyes of the world turned to Brisbane in 1988 and thousands of visitors flocked to Expo 88. The subsequent birth of South Bank on the Expo site has resulted in a thriving cultural hub and Brisbane is more than matching it with its southern counterparts.

 

ABORIGINAL HISTORY

Prior to European colonisation, the Brisbane region was occupied by Aboriginal tribes, notably clans of the Yugara, Turrbal and Quandamooka peoples. The oldest archaeological site in the Brisbane region comes from Wallen Wallen Creek on North Stradbroke Island (21,430±400 years before present), however, settlement would likely occurred well prior to this date.

 

The land, the river and its tributaries were the source and support of life in all its dimensions. The river's abundant supply of food included fish, shellfish, crab, and prawns. Good fishing places became campsites and the focus of group activities. The district was defined by open woodlands with rainforest in some pockets or bends of the Brisbane River.

A resource-rich area and a natural avenue for seasonal movement, Brisbane was a way station for groups travelling to ceremonies and spectacles. The region had several large (200–600 person) seasonal camps, the biggest and most important located along waterways north and south of the current city heart: Barambin or 'York's Hollow' camp (today's Victoria Park) and Woolloon-cappem (Woolloongabba/South Brisbane), also known as Kurilpa. These camping grounds continued to function well into historic times, and were the basis of European settlement in parts of Brisbane.

 

TOWN PLAN

Buildings were constructed for the convict settlement, generally at right angles to the river's shoreline in the direction of Queen Street, and along the shoreline south-east of today's Victoria Bridge. The outstanding surviving building is the Commissariat Store (1828-29), originally two storeys, in William Street. The street layout, however, developed from a thoroughfare from the river's edge running north-east to the prisoners' barrack near the corner of today's Queen and Albert Streets. When a town survey was done in 1840 that thoroughfare was chosen as the main street – Queen Street – and the grid pattern of square blocks moved out from the Queen Street axis. There were several versions of the town survey. The proposed streets varied in width from 20 to 28 metres but Governor Gipps, anticipating an inauspicious future for the settlement, trimmed them back to the lesser figure. Streets running parallel to Queen Street were named after British and related royalty, among them Queen Mary II, Queen Charlotte (wife of George III) and Queen Adelaide (wife of William IV). William, George, Albert and Edward Streets, running at right angles, had similar royal antecedents. Creek Street's position approximated the course of a minor stream, Wheat Creek.

 

The town survey occurred about three years after a select committee of the British Parliament had concluded that transportation had ceased to deter crime and, in any event, was tainted with inhumanity. By 1839 Moreton Bay was being transformed from a convict settlement to a free settlement, and in July 1842 the first sales of Brisbane land took place in Sydney. Nearly 60 allotments, each of 36 perches, in North and South Brisbane were offered. Twelve months later blocks in Kangaroo Point were sold. Little care was taken to reserve land or space along the river's edge for public purposes, but the government farm at the south-east end was kept and in time became the botanic gardens.

 

OUTER SETTLEMENTS

The scatter of urban land sales detracted from North Brisbane's role as a central place in Moreton Bay. Wharves were set up on both sides of the river, and there was an Ipswich-Cleveland 'axis' backed by rural interests which wanted the administrative centre and a port at those places. Probably it was the building of a customs house in 1849 on the river in North Brisbane which had a decisive effect: wharf interests moved, to be closer to the customs house, which in turn influenced the location of warehouses and merchandising. South Brisbane remained at a disadvantage until a permanent Victoria Bridge (1874) replaced ferry crossings.

 

Four years after the first land sales North and South Brisbane's populations were 614 and 346 respectively. The town was nothing much to look at: convict buildings were dilapidated, new structures had been roughly built and mainly it was the steady inflow of new inhabitants which held the best prospects for improvement. A Catholic school had been opened in 1845 and the Moreton Bay Courier weekly newspaper began publication in 1846, but it was not until the end of the decade that noticeable civic amenities emerged. Coinciding with the arrival of the Fortitude immigrants in 1849 (who were settled outside the town boundary, north of Boundary Street), an Anglican school was opened and a Wesleyan church built in Albert Street. A school of arts was established, moving into its own hall in Creek Street in 1851. Regular postal deliveries were introduced in Brisbane in 1852.

During the 1850s most Churches constructed substantial buildings: St Stephens Catholic in Elizabeth Street (1850), St Johns Anglican, William Street, Presbyterian, Ann Street (1857) and Baptist, Wharf Street (1859). There were three ferry services, to South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point and the 'middle' service from Edward Street, also to Kangaroo Point. The Brisbane Municipal Council was proclaimed, just before colonial self-government, in 1859.

 

There had been land sales well beyond the town boundaries, but in the early 1860s allotments were cut up for working-class cottages in Spring Hill, Petrie Terrace and Fortitude Valley. In 1861 a census recorded over 8000 people in Brisbane and another 5000 in adjoining areas. An Ipswich to Brisbane telegraph began operation and the unused convict windmill (1828) up in Wickham Terrace was converted to a signal station with a time ball.

 

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS

Municipal improvements were brought in with improved town lighting from the Brisbane gas works (1864) in Petrie Bight, north of the customs house, and the widely felt need for recreation space was officially recognised by a survey of Yorks Hollow (where the Fortitude migrants had been sent) for Victoria Park. Progress there was slow, with the council using the site for sewage disposal until 1886. Fires rid parts of Queen Street of time-worn commercial buildings in 1864, clearing the way for better structures built under the supervision of fire-protection bylaws. The council also found the need to divide its area into four wards, expanding it into six in 1865 (East, West, North, South, Valley and Kangaroo Point). The council also expanded to a new town hall in Queen Street (1866), by when a short-lived bridge to South Brisbane (1865-67) was in operation. The water supply ponds were hopelessly inadequate, and in 1866 a supply from Breakfast Creek, Enoggera, was turned on.

 

Gympie gold (1867) brought prosperity to the colony, but the rural-dominated legislature spent the money outside Brisbane, a prime example being the Darling Downs railway to Ipswich (1867) with the intent of having a port on the Bremer River. Legislative shenanigans could not stop the growth of the capital city's population (15,000 in 1871, 23,000 in 1881) nor that of the adjoining suburbs. Brisbane's 1881 population of 23,000 included South Brisbane. Ten years later, after South Brisbane had been made a separate municipality in 1887, their combined populations were 49,000. By 1891 Brisbane and suburbs had a population of over 100,000.

 

With population and export income from gold there came pressure for public buildings appropriate to the town's growing prosperity. The first of them was the general post office in Queen Street (1872), followed by the government printing office (1874) near the Commissariat Store in William Street. A torrent came in the 1880s, with the Queensland National Bank at the corner of Queen and Creek Streets, the Margaret Street Synagogue, Finney Isles Big Block emporium in Adelaide Street, and in 1889 the new Customs House, the Treasury Building in William Street and the Ann Street Presbyterian church. The legislature aspired to grandeur quite early, in 1868, with its Parliament House near the botanic gardens.

 

TRAINS AND TRAMS

The Ipswich railway line was joined to Brisbane by a bridge across the river at Chelmer and Indooroopilly in 1876. Ten years later a line to the South Coast was under construction, but the lines were at first organised with rural freight rather than suburban passengers in mind. Suburban transport services started with a horse tram out to New Farm (1885-86), and across the Victoria Bridge to West End. Electric powered trams began in 1887. Central Brisbane was crossed by a Queen Street tram, connected to termini at Newstead, West End and Logan Road at Buranda. The main shopping centre was around Queen, George and Adelaide Streets, competing with Brunswick and Wickham Streets in Fortitude Valley. The south side had shopping at Five Ways, Woolloongabba, and at South Brisbane, although the latter declined after the 1893 floods.

 

Northside tram lines from Red Hill, Kelvin Grove, Clayfield and Hamilton were opened during 1897-1902, coming into the city via Edward Street in most cases. By 1890 there were also suburban railway lines, to Sandgate via Nundah (1882), to Enoggera and to Cleveland (1889). Brisbane Central station (1889) brought northside travellers right into Brisbane, as before then the Sandgate line had ended at Roma Street via a cost saving line through Victoria Park. The line to Brisbane Central station also passed through busy Fortitude Valley.

With the addition of a tram line to Lutwyche and Kedron in 1913 the pressure of traffic led to the construction of a line along Adelaide Street (1915), which in turn required the Council to widen Adelaide Street by four metres between George and Creek Streets in 1922-23.

 

HOUSE SIZES

Since 1885 minimum house allotments had been set at 16 perches (10m x 40m). Residents could therefore look forward to more airy, spacious houses outside the city and its adjoining suburbs such as Spring Hill and Petrie Terrace. The better-off population invariably sought out the higher ridges on elevated sites overlooking the river, making Hamilton (with a tram in 1899) one of the most sought after suburbs. It was the new upper-working and middle-class suburbs, however, that showed the change most clearly.

 

CENTRAL CITY SHOPPING

Central Brisbane had grand department stores, Finney Isles, and Allan and Stark, but not as many as Fortitude Valley. A third one came later in George Street, near the Roma Street railway station: McDonnell and East built a low-rise emporium there in 1912. Commercial and government buildings, usually of a modest height, sometimes had a massive footprint. An exception to the prevailing height practice was the Queensland (later Commonwealth) Bank administration building of eight storeys at the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets (1920) clad with sandstone and granite. The CML building, next to the GPO, went to the legal limit of 11 storeys in 1931 and was exceeded in height only by the Brisbane City Hall tower (1930).

 

The changing commercial centre was thought to need a distinctive civic space and an Anzac Square was proposed in 1915. It was completed in 1930, coinciding with the City Hall and the construction of a second bridge out of the city, across the river to South Brisbane. Named after William Jolly, first Lord Mayor of the amalgamated Brisbane Metropolitan Council (1925), the bridge was opened in 1932. A third bridge was opened in 1940 from the other (eastern) end of the city across to Kangaroo Point. Neither bridge had trams, but each integrated with the metropolitan council's planned arterial road system.

 

The opening of the Story Bridge was followed by 20 years of building quietude in central Brisbane. The war and postwar recovery explains part of the inactivity, but central Brisbane made do with its prewar building stock during the 1950s. Suburban expansion was the focus of activity, exemplified by Allan and Stark building a drive-in shopping centre at Chermside in 1957. Another change was the removal of the wholesale food market from Roma Street to Rocklea in 1962.

After recovery from the 1961 credit squeeze, commercial pressure and interstate example succeeded in raising the building height limit. The Pearl Assurance building (1966) at Queen Street was 15 storeys and the Manufacturers Mutual Insurance building (1967), also in Queen Street, was 22 storeys. The SGIO building (1970) in Turbot Street was an even more significant structure.

 

A lack of building activity in central Brisbane in the 1950s did not detract from its role as a retailing destination. Central city shopping boomed while there were low postwar car ownership and strong radial public transport services. The 1953 retail census for metropolitan Brisbane showed that the city and inner suburbs (Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills, South Brisbane etc) had 74% of total retail sales.

 

OFFICES AND SHOPS

Set against the decline in retailing was the growth in high-rise office and commercial buildings. By the late 1980s central Brisbane had about 1.75 million sq metres of office space, ten times the amount of retail floor space. Its share of metropolitan office space was over 70%, and fringe areas such as Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley, Milton and Woolloongabba had another 25%. The change in Brisbane's skyline was evident from across the river, an example being the view from Kangaroo Point to the Riverside Centre office building (1987) at Eagle Street. The eastern commercial end of Ann, Adelaide and Queen Streets began to resemble the closed in narrow streets of Sydney's office precinct.

In contrast to office high rise, the Queen Street retailing centre has kept many of its old buildings. The facades are partly concealed by pedestrian mall shade sails and other structures, but the shops and arcades generate plenty of activity. The most significant addition was the Myer Centre (1988) with eight cinemas and 200 other stores, bounded by Queen, Albert and Elizabeth Streets. It replaced Allan and Stark (Queen Street, opposite side) and McWhirters, Fortitude Valley, which had both been taken over by Myer several years before. When opened, the Myer Centre's retail floor area was nearly 108,000 sq m, 26% more than the largest competing regional drive-in centre, at Upper Mount Gravatt.

 

PARKS AND RESIDENTS

By the 1960s the growth of metropolitan population and motor traffic was putting central Brisbane's streets under strain. All three river bridges fed into the central business district, although the Centenary Bridge (1960) at Jindalee gave temporary relief. Closer in, relief came in 1969 with the widening of the Story Bridge approaches, and the opening of the fourth Victoria Bridge, often known as the Melbourne Street Bridge. The Riverside Expressway was completed in 1976, a close-in ring road along the western edge of central Brisbane, from Victoria Bridge to the new Captain Cook Bridge, and leading to the south-eastern suburbs. The Expressway decisively altered the appearance of Central Brisbane. The tram crossing had ceased to function when trams were replaced by buses, but a railway crossing came very belatedly with the Merivale Bridge, linking South Brisbane and Roma Street stations in 1978. Prior to that the lines from Beenleigh and Cleveland and the trunk standard gauge from Sydney terminated at the South Brisbane station.

Roma Street had been the site of the wholesale food market, and for decades the land had remained under-used. The central city had incrementally added open spaces to its fabric – King George Square enlarged in 1975 and the Post Office Square opened in 1984 – and in 2001-03 the largest addition, the 16 ha Roma Street Parkland was completed.

 

Along with Albert Park and Wickham Park, the Parkland gives inner city residents generous open space. The residential population of central Brisbane, however, changed little between 1981 and 2001. The inner city (approximately between Ann and Elizabeth Streets) had just 45 dwellings in 1981 and 689 in 2001. The resident populations for the respective years were 1174 and 976, a decrease. Apartments had replaced boarding houses and rooms. The rest of central Brisbane (including Petrie Terrace) also saw an increase in dwellings (758 to 1282) and a decrease in population (3511 to 1797). Single person apartments had increased, multi-person dwellings had decreased and some of each were not lived in full time, often being held for prospective capital gain. The boom in apartment building from 2001 has added thousands of apartments, many rented by overseas students.

 

The distinctive features of twenty-first century Brisbane are its increasing resemblance to other capital city office precincts, with forecourts, sub-tropical decorative plants and outdoor cafes. Queen Street's signature silver bullet trams last ran in 1969, but the street's unusual width (Andrew Petrie apparently persuaded Governor Gipps on this point) has provided for a signature shopping mall with generous outdoor seating and dining areas. Out of the central retail area elegant sandstone government and commercial buildings have survived, surely an iconic architectural form. Some buildings have removed their clerks and accountants, substituting hotel patrons, tourists and casino visitors. The historic customs house was purchased by The University of Queensland from the federal government, and includes meeting, dining and gallery space. The City Hall (1930), once the tallest building, has been dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers, so its clock tower no longer affords a commanding view over Central Brisbane. In 2008 the Brisbane City Council agreed to underpin City Hall which was in danger of gradual sinking on inadequate foundations.

 

The gothic-style St Johns Anglican Cathedral, commenced in 1901-06, was finally completed in 2009. Bounded by Ann and Adelaide streets, the cathedral roof and other buildings sustained extensive damage in a storm in 2014.

 

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane & www.visitbrisbane.com.au/information/about-brisbane/histo... & queenslandplaces.com.au/brisbane-central

 

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1990 heralded a new decade with momentous change and significant events unfolding internationally and at home in Queensland. German reunification was achieved following the ‘fall’ of the Berlin Wall in November 1989. The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in turn declared their independence from the Soviet Union. Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years of imprisonment in South Africa, and Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after more than 11 years in office. British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee created the first web server and web browser, and the Hubble Space Telescope was launched from the space shuttle ‘Discovery’.

 

The Australian Labor Party’s federal election campaign was launched in Brisbane in early March before Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s government was returned later that month for a historic fourth term. Andrew Peacock resigned the leadership of the federal Liberal Party after the election defeat and was replaced by Dr John Hewson. Earlier in March, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) was founded. The inaugural Cape York Aboriginal Land Conference took place at Lockhart River in September, leading to the formation of the Cape York Land Council.

 

The nation’s first women Premiers were sworn into office this year, firstly Western Australia’s Carmen Lawrence in February followed by Victoria’s Joan Kirner in August. On the day of Kirner’s swearing in, the Hawke government announced Australia would join the international naval blockade of Iraq in the Persian Gulf. A specially convened ALP national conference in September endorsed the privatisation of Qantas and other assets, ahead of deregulation of the domestic aviation market in November. Near that month’s end, Treasurer Paul Keating declared Australia was enduring “the recession we had to have”.

 

The 1990s was a decade of transformation as infrastructure connected the state, the Internet changed how we worked and Agro was a prime-time star. These photographic highlights come from a collection of thousands of images captured by Transport and Main Roads, documenting the plans, programs and growth of Queensland throughout the decade.

 

Find this series in our catalogue: www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/series/S20086

 

The Transport and Main Roads Visual Resource Library collection contains over 200.000 photographs and other resources from the 1920’s to 2005 from the many and varied road, transport and maritime departments over that time. It is mostly the work of the Photographic Branch and Graphic Reproduction Services Unit between the 1930s and the 1990s. Photographers Les Dixon, Bob Reid, Ian Williams, Murray Waite and Ray Burgress recorded works and events of the Department.

 

Subjects covered include road construction projects, environmental science, road fittings, public transport and road users, people at work, community engagement, official openings, sod turnings, new structures (bridges, dams and Queensland University), awards, department initiatives, safety campaigns, exhibitions and displays.

 

A dead moth caught in a seemingly abandoned cobweb.

The world class boanical collections in Waimea Valley owe there existence to Mir. Keith Woolliams, a dedicated botanical horticulturist who was trained at the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, on the outskirts of London.

Keith led a rich life traveling around the globe studying botanical collections in England, Japan, Papua New Guinea and Bermuda. He brought to Hawaii his expertise and knowledge of uncommon horticultural treasures, and he acquired seeds, plants, and cuttings from remote places and botanical gardens all over the world. In pre-internet days dozens of letters and packages were dispatched and received daily.

His theme of "Conservation Through Cultivation" resulted in a balance of rare and useful native and Polynesian-introduced plants among exotic horticultural specimens.

What was once an ungroomed valley, filled with koa haole and ravaged by feral cattle was transformed into what you see today by Keith and the many dedicated people he inspired. They oversaw the design, landscaping and construction of the pathways, stone walls and stairs that frame the gardens. Keith's high standards for record keeping and signage persist to this day. He left us in 1998 with a library full of his propagation knowledge, cultivation practices and plant lore which survives to ensure that the precious life forms brought to this valley will thrive here long into the future.

Keith was an inspiring advocate for Hawatian plant conservation and he influenced many young people across the state. He connected Waimea with state, federal and international agencies such as the Center for Plant Conservation, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the Botanical Gardens Conservation International - partnerships that Waimea Valley continues to uphold today.

Keith was instrumental in bringing in critically endangered plants from Japan's Ogasawara Islands, hibiscus relatives from all over the world, and with international colleagues he tried to assemble wild-source collections of every species of Erythrina in the world. In the periodical, "Notes from Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden" published twice a year until 1992 he stated "Waimea is a labeled and documented collection of plants for educational and scientific purposes, a living gene pool for future generations".

It is with great honor and gratitude that we remember Mr. Keith Woolliams and his dedication to Waimea Valley.

SPEAK YOUR DREAMS INTO EXISTENCE / WEALTHY MINDS Murals by Shawn Perkins in collaboration with Billionaire P.A at Union Market District along 5th Street between Florida Avenue and Morse Street, NE, Washington DC on Monday afternoon, 31 January 2022 by Elvert Barnes Photography

 

SHAWN PERKINS website at www.sptheplug.com/

 

Elvert Barnes GRAFFITI Writings On The Wall 2022 at elvertxbarnes.com/graffiti

 

Elvert Barnes Public Art 2022 at elvertxbarnes.com/publicart

 

Trip to / from Union Market District, NE, and Columbia Heights, NW, Washington DC

 

Elvert Barnes January 2022 at elvertxbarnes.com/2022

 

Published at 51st.news/ask-a-d-c-native-im-new-here-how-can-i-make-fri...

Saturday February 27th

5 - 8pm

 

Opening

EXISTENCE & GODS

Duo Exhibition + Live Music Performance.

 

The Antic Staatsoper + Ma Shang

 

La Menagerie - Art Gallery

2707 El Camino Real

Redwood City

California

Entrance free

  

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History of the Shaolin Temples

 

There are few historical entities that engender as much debate, confusion, and acrimony as the nature and reality of Shaolin. We have heard distinguished university professors categorically deny the existence of either Shaolin or its problem-children Tongs; that only authenticated accounts by the Communist Chinese government are to be trusted; or that the temples are fictitious, based on stories in old novels.

The following accounts are taken from sources who 1) practiced the specific kung fu styles to Master level from the "supposed" temples, 2) learned their arts AT those temples before the temples were destroyed, or 3) were taught by practitioners from those temples. Also, our sources were corroborated by at least three individuals (standard rule of evidence accepted by most professional journalists). The masters, however, have declined to be named for the reasons that 1) they do not want to engage in controversy--the information is here to accept or reject as you like (as directed by the last lesson of the Buddha), 2) they have assumed new names after leaving China because, as refugees, did not want their families to suffer for their actions. Having said that, and agreeing in advance to protect the confidentiality of our sources, we have been told that...

The Shaolin order dates to about 540 A.D., when an Indian Buddhist priest named Bodhidharma (Tamo in Chinese), traveled to China to see the Emperor. At that time, the Emperor had started local Buddhist monks translating Buddhist texts from Sanskrit to Chinese. The intent was to allow the general populace the ability to practice this religion.

This was a noble project, but when the Emperor believed this to be his path to Nirvana, Tamo disagreed. Tamo's view on Buddhism was that you could not achieve your goal just through good actions performed by others in your name. At this point the Emperor and Tamo parted ways and Tamo traveled to the nearby Buddhist temple to meet with the monks who were translating these Buddhist texts.

The temple had been built years before in the remains of a forest that had been cleared or burned down. At the time of the building of the temple, the emperor's gardeners had also planted new trees. Thus the temple was named "young (or new) forest", (Shaolin in Mandarin, Sil Lum in Cantonese).

When Tamo arrived at the temple, he was refused admittance, probably being thought of as an upstart or foreign meddler by the head abbot (Fang Chang). Rejected by the monks, Tamo went to a nearby cave and meditated until the monks recognized his religious prowess and admitted him. Legend has it that he bored a hole through one side of the cave with his constant gaze; in fact, the accomplishment that earned his recognition is lost to history.

When Tamo joined the monks, he observed that they were not in good physical condition. Most of their routine paralleled that of the Irish monks of the Middle Ages, who spent hours each day hunched over tables where they transcribed handwritten texts. Consequently, the Shaolin monks lacked the physical and mental stamina needed to perform even the most basic of Buddhist meditation practices. Tamo countered this weakness by teaching them moving exercises, designed to both enhance ch'i flow and build strength. These sets, modified from Indian yogas (mainly hatha, and raja) were based on the movements of the 18 main animals in Indo-Chinese iconography (e.g., tiger, deer, leopard, cobra, snake, dragon, etc.), were the beginnings of Shaolin Kung Fu.

It is hard to say just when the exercises became "martial arts". The Shaolin temple was in a secluded area where bandits would have traveled and wild animals were an occasional problem, so the martial side of the temple probably started out to fulfill self-defense needs. After a while, these movements were codified into a system of self-defense.

As time went on, this Buddhist sect became more and more distinct because of the martial arts being studied. This is not to say that Tamo "invented" martial arts. Martial arts had existed in China for centuries. But within confines of the temple, it was possible to develop and codify these martial arts into the new and different styles that would become distinctly Shaolin. One of the problems faced by many western historians is the supposed contraindication of Buddhist principles of non-violence coupled with Shaolin's legendary martial skills. In fact, the Shaolin practitioner is never an attacker, nor does he or she dispatch the most devastating defenses in any situation. Rather, the study of kung fu leads to better understanding of violence, and consequently how to avoid conflict. Failing that, a Buddhist who refuses to accept an offering of violence (i.e., and attack) merely returns it to the sender. Initially, the kung fu expert may choose to parry an attack, but if an assailant is both skilled and determined to cause harm, a more definitive and concluding solution may be required, from a joint-lock hold to a knockout, to death. The more sophisticated and violent an assault, the more devastating the return of the attack to the attacker. Buddhists are not, therefore, hurting anyone; they merely refuse delivery of intended harm.

The Shaolin philosophy is one that started from Buddhism and later adopted many Taoist principles to become a new sect. Thus even though a temple may have been Taoist or Buddhist at first, once it became Shaolin, it was a member of a new order, an amalgamation of the prevailing Chinese philosophies of the time.

Other temples sprung from Henan. This happened because the original temple would suffer repeated attacks and periods of inactivity as the reigning Imperial and regional leaders feared the martial powers of the not-always unaligned monks. Refugee Shaolin practitioners would leave the temple to teach privately (in Pai) or at other Buddhist or Taoist temples. In rare cases, a new Shaolin Temple would be erected (Fukien, Kwangtung) or converted from a pre-existing temple (Wu-Tang, O Mei Shan). Politically and militarily involved monks (such as the legendary White Eyebrow and Hung Tze Kwan) would be perpetual sources of trouble for the generally temporally aloof monks.

The Boxer rebellion in 1901 was the beginning of the end of the Shaolin temples. Prior to that, China had been occupied by Western and Japanese governments and business interests. The British had turned the Imperial family into an impotent puppet regime largely through the import and sales of opium and the general drug-devastation inflicted upon the poor population. This lead to the incursion of other European powers, including Russia, France and Holland, and later the Japanese and Americans. By the late 1800s, China was effectively divided into national zones, each controlled by one of the outside powers (similar to post World War II Berlin, on a hugely larger scale). The long standing animosities between China and Japan worsened, and extended to include all other "foreign devils" as well. Coupled with the now almost universal disdain by the Chinese for their Empress, a Nationalist movement with nation-wide grass-roots support was born. Among the front line soldiers of the new "order" were the legendary and near-legendary martial artists--many Shaolin--known as Boxers (remember how Bruce Lee, in his films depicting these times, refers to himself as a Chinese boxer...). Though their initial assaults on the military powers of the occupation governments were not entirely successful (many believed in Taoist magical spells that would make them impervious to gunfire), their temporary defeat would lead to a more modern reformation that included adopting modern military weapons and tactics.

The withdrawal of western forces was prolonged over many years, and by the end of World War I saw China in an almost feudal state of civil war. Not only were national troops fighting loyalists, but both sides had to fight the Japanese (who still held much of the northern Manchurian region of China) as well as many powerful, regional warlords. Many parts of China were virtually anarchies, but by 1931 almost all non-Asian occupants had been successfully driven out (with the interesting exception, in the late 1930s, of the volunteer American airmen known as The Flying Tigers, who helped repel Japanese forces prior to World War II), and the major combatants within China were the Nationalists and the Communists. Both sides displayed the typical jingoistic attitudes of forces in mindless warfare--if you aren't with us, you are against us. Neutrality meant nothing except the possibility of a later enemy. Consequently, Shaolin and other monks were routinely murdered by soldiers from both sides. One result of this program of murder was the exodus of many monks into the hills, or abroad, with the hope that Shaolin knowledge might survive even if the temples themselves did not.

The temples were unfortunate victims of war in a land that had abandoned its historical practice of respecting posterity and ancestors. All were ransacked and looted by various armed groups. O Mei Shan Temple ("Great White Mountain"), in Szechuan Province, was situated on a mountain top and deemed by Chinese officers to be a fitting target for artillery practice. It was shelled in turn by Nationalist and Communist armies. In a fitting twist of fate, this one-time site of medical and natural history knowledge was rebuilt by the Communists in the mid 1970s, and now stands as the National Park and Research Headquarters for the panda preserve.

There are various stories coming out of China today referring to the history of Shaolin, particularly over the past 300 years. However, many of these stories are suspect (compare Chinese accounts of Tiananmen Square with CNN news coverage), with the more commonly "authenticated" versions coming from government records. The fact that Chinese authorities outlawed Shaolin and martial arts practices makes any story about their history from such sources suspect. The prevalent wu-shu styles originated as a result of a compromise between the post-World War II governments and the national need and history of having a martial arts tradition. Wu-Shu, however, was not designed as a martial art (strictly illegal), and claims to the contrary date back only a decade or so, following on the popularity of Kung Fu.

  

What is Karate?

 

"True karate is this: that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice."

--Gichin Funakoshi

 

Karate can also be described as a martial art, or fighting method, involving a variety of techniques, including blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, and joint manipulations. Karate practice is divided into three aspects: kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).

The word karate is a combination of two Japanese characters: kara, meaning empty, and te, meaning hand; thus, karate means "empty hand." Adding the suffix "-do" (pronounced "doe"), meaning "way," i.e., karate-do, implies karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defense applications. In traditional karate-do, we always keep in mind that the true opponent is oneself.

 

To understand this we must first review our concept of Karate. Karate appears fearful and destructive to many people. Movies have contributed to popularizing Karate in the wrong way. There are also many people who think that Karate is only a type of calisthenics or, perhaps, even a type of dance. This shows undeniably the lack of a proper view of what Karate really is.

Karate is a martial art, for many people it is a way of life, and it shares the common aim with Judo, Kendo, Aikido, the tea ceremony, calligraphy, and Japanese flower arranging of cultivating through physical and spiritual training. It is also within reason to claim that Karate, as the original martial art, through physical and spiritual training and discipline, makes the impossible possible, even to the unarmed, and helps one in pursuing the aim of his life. A physical training so strict naturally involves a demanding psychological training as well. Karate is a method of unifying the body and spirit and of making human life at once broader and deeper.

"Karate" is a combination of two Japanese words, "Kara" meaning empty or open and "Te", meaning hand, and is therefore used to describe a style of unarmed combat. Karate not always had this meaning of empty hands, this modern phrase started in a meeting of the Okinawan masters sponsored by an Okinawan newspaper, at which the use of the T'ang character in the word Karate was discussed. The ideograph for Kara was altered to erase the Chinese connection for political reasons. So, the character " T'ang" (Kara) was replaced for "Empty" (Kara).

It is generally accepted that the origins of karate are to be found in India (525 A.D.). The credit is given to a Buddhist priest named Daruma Taishi,also known as Bohdidharma, who was the third child of a king and a brilliant student of Zen. Daruma studied the attacking techniques of animals and insects and the forces of nature, and, combining these with a special breathing technique, he created the basis for a legendary system of weaponless fighting and mental concentration. Daruma created in China the Shao-Lin temple in the province of Honan and in that monastery he instructed other monks in his particular style of unarmed combat.

The system developed at the temple gradually disseminated throughout Asia, spreading to Okinawa, Korea and Mongolia. By 1130 A.D., aspects of this system had even been incorporated into the indigenous military disciplines of geographically and culturally isolated Japan.

The Asia fighting arts were historically taught and refined in secrecy, as their practice was routinely prohibited in different regions. Consequently, various regionally and family-based styles and schools evolved, one of these being the Kempo style of Okinawa.

By 1901, Kempo was being taught openly in Okinawa, and in 1916, was demonstrated in Japan by master Gichin Funakoshi. There, under the name of Karate, practical applications of the system were further refined and united with the Zen-based philosophy of the Japanese disciplines. The popularity of karate as both a martial art and a sport spread quickly in Japan and beyond, contributing to the development of diverse systems and schools.

Kyokushin Karate is a discipline through which practitioners may find clues to assist them in their own spiritual development and self-exploration. It is also, importantly, a martial art, encompassing philosophical considerations of life and death, struggle and survival. It is a practical form of self-defense, emphasizing (at the initial stages) kicks, punches, blocks and body movement. It is an intense physical activity, which directly benefits mental conditioning.

"Kyokushinkaikan" is comprised of four Japanese words:

Kyokushin Karate is characterized by requiring of its participants, tenuous training, conditioning and realistic contact while sparing. Kyokushin karate-ka believe this contact is necessary in order to fully appreciate the resiliency of the human body and spirit and to prepare for any serious confrontation. The word "OSU" and the phrase "osu no seishin" (perseverance under pressure) succinctly summarize the essence of the Dojo Kun, written by Sosai Mas Oyama and Eiji Yoshikawa.

Kyokushin philosophy is further reflected in the following maxim:

"... One Thousand days of training, A beginner; Ten thousand days of training, A master."

Masutatsu Oyama

Master Funakoshi

 

Gichin Funakoshi is widely considered the primary "father" of modern karate due to his efforts to introduce the Okinawan art to mainland Japan, from where it spread to the rest of the world. Born in 1868, he began to study karate at the age of 11, and was a student of the two greatest masters of the time, Azato and Itosu. He grew so proficient that he was initiated into all the major styles of karate in Okinawa at the time. For Master Funakoshi, the word karate eventually took on a deeper and broader meaning through the synthesis of these many methods, becoming karate-do, literally the "way of karate," or of the empty hand. Training in karate-do became an education for life itself.

 

Master Funakoshi was the first expert to introduce karate-do to mainland Japan. In 1916 he gave a demonstration to the Butokuden in Kyoto, Japan, which at that time was the official center of all martial arts. On March 6, 1921, the Crown Prince, who was later to become the Emperor of Japan, visited Okinawa and Master Funakoshi was asked to demonstrate karate. In the early spring of 1922 Master Funakoshi traveled to Tokyo to present his art at the First National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo organized by the Ministry of Education. He was strongly urged by several eminent groups and individuals to remain in Japan, and indeed he never did return to Okinawa.

 

Master Funakoshi taught only one method, a total discipline, which represented a synthesis of Okinawan karate styles. This method became known as Shotokan, literally the clan or the house of Shoto, which was the Master's pen name for his poetry, denoting the sound of the wind blowing through pines.

  

So Nei Chu

The defeat of Japan and the subsequent indignity of Occupation almost proved to be too much for Mas Oyama, who nearly despaired. Fortunately for all of us, So Nei Chu came into his life at that time. Master So, another Korean (from Oyama's own province) living in Japan, was one of the highest authorities on Goju Ryu in Japan at the time. He was renowned for both his physical and spiritual strength. It was he who encouraged Mas Oyama to dedicate his life to the Martial Way. It was he too who suggested that Oyama should retreat away from the rest of the world for 3 years while training his mind and body.

MAS OYAMA

Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama was born Yong I-Choi on the 27th of July, 1923, in a village not far from Gunsan in Southern Korea. At a relatively young age he was sent to Manchuria, in Southern China, to live on his sister's farm. At the age of nine, he started studying the Southern Chinese form of Kempo called Eighteen hands from a Mr. Yi who was at the time working on the farm. When Oyama returned to Korea at the the age of 12, he continued his training in Korean Kempo.

In 1938, at the age of 15, he travelled to Japan to train as an aviator, to be like his hero of the time, Korea's first fighter pilot. Survival on his own at that age proved to be more difficult than he thought, especially as a Korean in Japan, and the aviator training fell by the wayside.

He did however continue martial arts training, by participating in judo and boxing, and one day he noticed some students training in Okinawan Karate. This interested him very much and he went to train at the dojo of Gichin Funakoshi at Takushoku University, where he learned what is today known as CyberDojo home pages.

His training progress was such that by the age of seventeen he was already a 2nd dan, and by the time he entered the Japanese Imperial Army at 20, he was a fourth dan. At this point he also took a serious interest in judo, and his progress there was no less amazing. By the time he had quit training in Judo

 

Mountain Training

When he was 23 years old, Mas Oyama met Eiji Yoshikawa, the author of the novel Musashi, which was based on the life and exploits of Japan's most famous Samurai. Both the novel and the author helped to teach Mas Oyama about the Samurai Bushido code and what it meant. That same year, Oyama went to Mt. Minobu in the Chiba Prefecture, where Musashi had developed his Nito-Ryu style of swordfighting. Oyama thought that this would be an appropriate place to commence the rigours of training he had planned for himself. Among the things he took with him was a copy of Yoshikawa's book. A student named Yashiro also came with him.

The relative solitude was strongly felt, and after 6 months, Yashiro secretly fled during the night. It became even harder for Oyama, who wanted more than ever to return to civilisation. So Nei Chu wrote to him that he should shave off an eyebrow in order to get rid of the urge. Surely he wouldn't want anyone to see him that way! This and other more moving words convinced Oyama to continue, and he resolved to become the most powerful karate-ka in Japan.

Soon however, his sponsor informed him that he was no longer able to support him and so, after fourteen months, he had to end his solitude.

A few months later, in 1947, Mas Oyama won the karate section of the first Japanese National Martial Arts Championships after WWII. However, he still felt empty for not having completed the three years of solitude. He then decided to dedicate his life completely to karate-do. So he started again, this time on Mt. Kiyozumi, also in Chiba Prefecture. This site he chose for its spiritually uplifting environment.

This time his training was fanatical — 12 hours a day every day with no rest days, standing under (cold) buffeting waterfalls, breaking river stones with his hands, using trees as makiwara, jumping over rapidly growing flax plants hundreds of times each day. Each day also included a period of study of the ancients classics on the Martial arts, Zen, and philosophy.

After eighteen months he came down fully confident of himself, and able to take control of his life. Never again would he be so heavily influenced by his society around him. (Though it is probably safe to say that his circumstances were also probably never again as traumatic!)

Bulls, Challengers, and the Godhand

In 1950, Sosai (the founder) Mas Oyama started testing (and demonstrating) his power by fighting bulls. In all, he fought 52 bulls, three of which were killed instantly, and 49 had their horns taken off with knife hand blows. That it is not to say that it was all that easy for him. Oyama was fond of remembering that his first attempt just resulted in an angry bull. In 1957, at the age of 34, he was nearly killed in Mexico when a bull got some of his own back and gored him. Oyama somehow managed to pull the bull off and break off his horn. He was bedridden for 6 months while he recoverd from the usually fatal wound. Today of course, the animal rights groups would have something to say about these demonstrations, despite the fact that the animals were already all destined for slaughter.

In 1952, he travelled the United States for a year, demonstrating his karate live and on national televison. During subsequent years, he took on all challengers, resulting in fights with 270 different people. The vast majority of these were defeated with one punch! A fight never lasted more than three minutes, and most rarely lasted more than a few seconds. His fighting principle was simple — if he got through to you, that was it.

 

If he hit you, you broke. If you blocked a rib punch, you arm was broken or dislocated. If you didn't block, your rib was broken. He became known as the Godhand, a living manifestation of the Japanese warriors' maxim Ichi geki, Hissatsu or "One strike, certain death". To him, this was the true aim of technique in karate. The fancy footwork and intricate techniques were secondary (though he was also known for the power of his head kicks).

 

Kyokushinkai Karate

Martial art created by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama in 1955. It is a style of karate focuses on strenuous physical training, especially kumite and tameshiwari, though it also inludes kihon, kata, self-defense techniques, and weapons. It is the utilization of circular movement in the execution of techniques that distinguishes Kyokushin Karate from the traditional styles of Karate that rely on simple linear motion. Kyokushin Karate is characterized by requiring of its participants, strenuous training, conditioning and realistic contact while sparring. Kyokushin karate-ka believes this contact is necessary in order to fully appreciate the resiliency of the human body and spirit and to prepare for any serious confrontation.

 

The kanji (Japanese characters) calligraphy, worn universally on the front of the gi, simply means "Kyokushinkai", which is the name given by Sosai Mas Oyama to the karate style he created. It is composed of three characters:

Kyoku meaning "Ultimate".

Shin meaning "Truth" or "Reality".

Kai meaning "Society" or "Association".

Kan = Building, School

Kanku

The symbol of Kyokushin Karate is the Kanku, which is derived from Kanku Kata, the Sky Gazing Form. In this kata, the hands are raised and the fingers meet to form an opening through which the sky is viewed. The top and bottom points of the Kanku represent the first fingers of each hand touching at the top and the thumbs touching at the bottom, symbolizing the peaks or ultimate points. The thick sections at the sides represent the wrists, symbolizing power. The center circle represents the opening between the hands through which the sky is viewed, symbolizing infinite depth. The whole Kanku is enclosed by a circle, symbolizing continuity and circular action.

  

K-1 Kickboxing

 

While the sport of Boxing having its long history since the age of Roman Empire and a very large population base in its amateur and professional practitioners, with its techniques having been thoroughly experienced, researched and evolved, it makes us to think that the "Sweet Science" is almost coming to be at a point of its perfection.

In comparison, while Muay Thai has its own history, Kickboxing is a new sport now gaining a world wide popularity, and the population is still small. The world of Kickboxing is also not as unified yet, as there are many organizations in the world having their own championship tournaments with different rules. Also the lines are thin between this sport and other full-contact or semi-contact fighting tournaments. There are still many new ideas and techniques coming out in Kickboxing, with a large help from the variety of already existing Martial Arts such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu and many others.

 

Kickboxing has taken into a form around 500 years ago (some say it's longer) in the country of what's now Thailand, called Muay Thai or Thai Boxing. Most of the kickboxing styles in the world is based on Muay Thai, including Japan, Europe, and Australia. In Muay Thai match, the fighters are allowed to:

 

Kick and knee to the leg, body, head

Punch to the body, head

Elbow to the body, head

Back spin punch

(They used to allow head butts and throws)

 

What's dominant in America is the American-style kickboxing, which is started out as a full contact Karate tournament with the basis of boxing. It allows kicks to the waist above only, and there is no elbow and knee strikes. There are many Kickboxing organizations in the world having their own championship tournaments. The organizations are, to name a few: W.K.A., W.K.C, I.K.K.C., K.I.C.K., P.K.F., P.K.A, I.S.K.A., etc. Savate is a French version of kickboxing. San Shou is a Chinese kickboxing started out from Kung-fu, allowing throws in addition. And so is Draka from Russia. Shoot-boxing is started out in Japan and is a combination of Muay Thai with throws.

Out of what seems to be an disorganized situation in present kickboxing world, there came a kickboxing event called K-1. Originally a full-contact Karate event that became a huge success in Japan, it is now considered sort of a unified tournament of striking Martial Arts where any styles and organizations can freely compete in it --- as long as they adhere to its rule. It's tournament rule is similar to that of Muay Thai without elbow strikes. So far the champions from many styles of striking-based Martial Arts have competed in it, such as Karate, Boxing, Muay Thai, Kung-fu, Taekwondo, American Kickboxing, Draka, Capoeira, Shootfighting and No Hold Barred (UFC, Vale Tudo). It has been a huge success in Japan and in Europe, and now it is also becoming big in the US.. It is said that the idea of K-1 event is a very important step in the development of Kickboxing and the Martial Arts in general.

 

One for the Vain Inc Gallery: Unfortunately not very visible but in my one hand I am holding a globe with the country I lam living in now, The Netherlands and in the other one a globe of the country I came from, Poland. Mixing cultures I guess=]

My sweet guy DLB made this snap while we were visiting space park so I thought I will merge it into this pic=]

 

model: me

sim: Space Park

theme: Your gift---->My gift is the best of 2 rl worlds

  

Anatole France

 

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Use without permission is illegal.

  

"Silence is the breath with which serenity speaks.

The sky solemn, find peace in the stillness.

To think, brood over life's worries and woes,

Return with contentment to all that is noble in your existence. "

 

Wrote this on a beautiful clear night while Bryan and I were driving through the mountains. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, the right words flow.

 

I used a space image from NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, to create this image.

Fredagens promenad i Skånes Viby / Fridays walk in Skånes Viby

Only counting books I read (or soon-ish will have read) in their entirety…

Faves: 7.

Best: Better never to have been: The harm of coming into existence by David Benatar! :D

Below are starting dates, titles, authors, and some quotes / comments that I could think of. :p Hopefully I have not typo-ed up the quotes too badly.

 

27-Feb-2015: 1. Better never to have been: The harm of coming into existence by David Benatar

Fave! Why yes, I have become an antinatalist lately. Read the book, for it will refute your knee-jerk counterarguments and clear up your extremely common misconceptions. :D

 

"… [T]here is nothing in my view that suggests we should not 'count our blessings' if by this one means that one should be pleased that one's life is not still worse than it is. A few of us are very lucky relative to much of the species. There is no harm – and there may be benefits – in recognizing this. But the injunction to count one's blessings is much less compelling when it entails deceiving oneself into thinking that one was actually lucky to have come into existence. It is like being grateful that one is in a first-class cabin on the Titanic as one awaits descent to one's watery grave. It may be better to die in first-class than in steerage, but not so much better as to count oneself very lucky. Nor does my view preclude our making the most of life or taking pleasure whenever we can (within the constraints of morality). I have argued that our lives are very bad. There is no reason why we should not try to make them less so, on condition that we do not spread the suffering (including the harm of existence)."

 

Moar! "Whenever humanity comes to an end, there will be serious costs for the last people. Either they will be killed or they will languish from the consequences of dwindling population and the collapse of social infrastructure. All things being equal, nothing is gained if this happens later. The same suffering occurs. But there is a cost that does not have to be paid if extinction occurs earlier – the cost to the intervening new generations, those that exist between the present generation and final one. The case for earlier extinction is thus strong."

 

One of the chapters is titled "Abortion: The pro-death view". Ratexla approves of this. %D

 

13-Mar-2015: 2. Denna dagen, ett liv: En biografi över Astrid Lindgren by Jens Andersen

Astrid Lindgren bio. She was rather fab and had DARKNESS. My fave Astrid stories are "Ronia the robber's daughter" and "The brothers Lionheart". :)

 

23-Mar-2015: 3. Ultralight backpackin' tips: 153 amazing & inexpensive tips for extremely lightweight camping by Mike Clelland

Fave! Not that I take photo-hikes or sleep outdoors (OR, YOU KNOW, LEAVE THE HOUSE) as often as I should. :| But I've got vague plans! OH YEAH! Anyway. The book includes extremely energy-dense recipes that sound pretty tasty. :D (The author is a vegetarian and the vast majority of said recipes are either vegan or easily veganized.) It is almost a pity that I wouldn't bother to bring a camping kitchen on my epic hikes (since, uh, they weigh a few grams and they're scary and I've never used one on my own), but I might try to make one of his oil-spice-mixes for home use. :)

 

Yes, the book does instruct readers in the noble art of taking a shit in the woods, which I have never actually done, which is a source of great shame. D: *fails hardcore outdoorsiness academy*

 

1-Apr-2015: 4. William Shakespeare: The complete plays in one sitting by Joelle Herr

The book is adorably tiny.

 

5-Apr-2015: 5. A universe from nothing: Why there is something rather than nothing by Lawrence M. Krauss

Many interesting bits, although I comprehended far from everything... o_O

 

6-May-2015: 6. Minding animals: Awareness, emotions, and heart by Marc Bekoff

A gift from a friend, so I read it even though the number of hippie bits, while not extreme, was too high. :s

 

9-May-2015: 7. The moral landscape: How science can determine human values by Sam Harris

Fave!

 

"I wonder if there is anyone on earth who would be tempted to attack the philosophical underpinnings of medicine with questions like: 'What about all the people who don't share your goal of avoiding disease and early death? Who is to say that living a long life free of pain and debilitating illness is "healthy"? What makes you think that you could convince a person suffering from fatal gangrene that he is not as healthy as you are?' And yet these are precisely the kinds of objections I face when I speak about morality in terms of human and animal well-being. Is it possible to voice such doubts in human speech? Yes. But that doesn't mean we should take them seriously."

 

28-Jun-2015: 8. A natural history of rape: Biological bases of sexual coercion by Randy Thornhill & Craig T. Palmer

Fave!

 

"Perhaps the most common misunderstanding of evolutionary theory, and the one most destructive to knowledge, is the naturalistic fallacy: the view that what ought to be is defined by what is, and especially by what is natural (Moore 1903). The flaw in this view seems obvious when one considers such natural phenomena as diseases, floods, and tornadoes. Nonetheless, many of sociobiology's early critics urged its rejection on the unsupportable ground that sociobiological explanations for undesirable traits excused the perpetrators because they were only doing what was natural (Sahlins 1976; Gould and Lewontin 1979).

 

"Even though the naturalistic fallacy has been painstakingly explained in nearly every major work of the past 25 years in which modern evolutionary theory has been applied to human behavior (see, e.g., Alexander 1979, 1987; Symons 1979; Wright 1994), this fallacy continues to be committed by many opponents of the modern evolutionary approach to human nature. For example, Tang-Martinez (1997, p. 117) states that many branches of feminism contend that human sociobiology 'serves only to justify and promote the oppression of women by perpetuating the notion that male dominance and female oppression are natural outcomes of human evolutionary history.'" (For the record, I am a feminist! OF COURSE! But not one of the hippie brand!)

 

Fun (AND USEFUL) random fact: "… [I]n anonymous reports ... about one-third of men say that they would coerce a woman into sexual acts if they could be assured that they would not suffer any negative consequences (Malamuth 1989; Young and Thiessen 1991)."

 

Other fun random fact: "According to Kinsey et al. (1948), about 20 percent of men reared in rural settings admitted to a sexual encounter with a farm animal."

 

I feel as if this book + Steven Pinker taught me 95 % of what I know about the average man. D:

 

24-Sep-2015: 9. The Great Ape Project: Equality beyond humanity - edited by Paola Cavalieri & Peter Singer

Fave! A collection of essays by various people – for example Richard Dawkins, Jane Goodall, and Jared Diamond – demanding "the extension of the community of equals to include all great apes: human beings, chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans."

 

Here is a quote from one Steve F. Sapontzis: "… [T]he answer to whether nonhuman great apes should be extended the same basic moral and legal rights as humans depends in part on whether these basic rights are being formulated in a general or specific manner. In developing moral and legal codes which people would be supposed to follow and to which they could be held accountable, specific formulations would have to be employed. Consequently, at this level the answer must be 'no': even in thoroughly non-speciesist, animal-respecting moral and legal codes, nonhuman great apes need not have the same basic moral and legal rights as humans.

 

"And vice versa, let us not forget. There is a tendency to think that if we conclude that nonhuman animals are not to enjoy all the rights of humans, it is because they are entitled only to a few of those rights. However, basing moral and legal protections on specific interests can also lead to the conclusion that nonhuman animals should have rights that humans do not need. So, specific nonhuman and human rights can be different without the former being merely a subgroup of the latter, and, consequently, without suggesting that the nonhumans are morally or legally less worthy beings."

 

4-Nov-2015: 10. General pathology for veterinary nurses by Harriet Brooks

A textbook I happened to read in its entirety because it was wee! :)

 

20-Dec-2015: 11. Brief candle in the dark: My life in science by Richard Dawkins

Fave!

 

"... and if you don't like digressive anecdotes you might find you're reading the wrong book." ^_^

 

24-Dec-2015: 12. Icarus at the edge of time by Brian Greene

Fave! It's a book for kids. And others. A short sci-fi story about general relativity. 34 big cardboard pages on which are printed amazeballs Hubble photos. And a black hole.

 

---------------------------------------------

Vegan FAQ! :)

 

The Web Site the Meat Industry Doesn't Want You to See.

 

Please watch Earthlings.

Have there always been shower squeegees? When did they suddenly come into existence?

 

Whoever invented it must be filthy rich - every shower has one. There’s serious money in limescale – maybe it could be floated on the stock market.

 

I never remember limescale being an issue as a child – We didn’t have a shower and with baths it is a symbiotic relationship – the bath cleans you and then, with your bum sliding up and down and around the surface of the bath you, in turn, clean it’s surface of limescale and scum.

 

First time I used one it was all very novel.

‘I’m a window cleaner!’ I thought, ‘Maybe I should get one of those holsters to carry my squeegee.’ Oh just look at the water sliding away! This is so completely and utterly satisfying, it could actually be better than sex.’

 

Second time round the novelty had worn off. It now just ruins the nice shower that I have just had with a horrible chore at the end of it. All warm and soft and sweet smelling I then have to get out the squeegee and stand, getting rapidly cold and irritated, swiping and sliding the thing all over the blasted screen doors. Then, no one else in the household bothers to do it and I start to wonder if it would just be easier to buy new doors at the end of my tenancy. I start to ruminate on a new invention to make the squeegee obsolete – maybe I could manufacture screen protectors like formula one drivers have on their visors - you just peel the thing off and throw it away once it becomes so deeply encrusted with stalagmites and stalactites that you no longer fit inside the shower alongside them.

 

Lately I have realised that just wiping off the water doesn’t do enough, ‘chalky residue lingers’ (good name for a racehorse that). So I find myself on a regular basis, in the nuddy, spraying some noxious chemical spray all over the screen, rubbing it in with a scratchy scouring pad (and occasionally my buttock if I’m not careful) whilst holding my breath and leaving it to soak in before having to then rinse it and start the whole bloody squeegee process all over again!

 

I do love the image in my mind though that all over the world, in every household, at some point, each occupant will stand naked in their shower playing at window cleaner. I would like to collate a photographic book.

 

I shall name it: “The Naked Squeegeer - How do you wipe yours?”

  

2015-11

Nordhausen

 

Pentacon Praktica MTL5

ORWO NP22 (expired)

Reflecta RPS 7200

 

EXPLORED Highest Rank #326

 

View On Black LARGE to see better

 

Alright, I'll be the first to admit that this could be a more sharp shot, but there's just something that I just love about it.

 

This was shot in Katmai NP & Preserve, off the shore of Katmai, just inland from the Cook Inlet in the tidal waters.

 

Maybe it's because of the wild nature of the place shot in this magnificent setting. Maybe it's because of the undisturbed activity of the wildlife there. It was afterall a gorgeous place and wonderful day.

 

We went for the bears, but this year, we were also treated to birds - not just the usual seagulls, but others, including obviously bald eagles. Being so focused on the bears, it was only on second glimpse that you would spot the eagles, usually by their white heads contrasting against the mountains, shoreline, or waters. That's probably why I tend to keep looking at this shot.

 

Here are just 2 of the sub-adult coastal brown bears wading in the waters, while 2 mature bald eagles sat nearby hunting for their own food. The eagle to the left on this shot has a juvenile bald eagle sitting to the right of it, just as an added bonus for us.

 

Usually, we see the bears and the scavenger seagulls, but this year in addition to the eagles, we also saw harbor seals participating alongside the bears in the frantic salmon feeding frenzy. What a special treat!

 

When I look at this shot, I see one thing overwhelmingly and that is harmony and peaceful co-existence. I wonder why it's often so easy for animals to co-exist with each other, but people often have such difficulty doing so. Perhaps this is yet another lesson that humans can learn from animals.

 

Thanks for your views and comments! Have a great day!

  

"Je aayaa se vinnaayaa, je vinnaayaa se aayaa (The self is the knower, and the knower is the self)".

(Acharanga - 1/5/5)

 

"In this sentence, the word soul/self is used as a subjective as well as an objective.

In reality, the soul is non-verbal.

A word cannot be synonymous with the soul.

The soul is unknowable, invisible, undetectable, imperceptible and of non-corporeal existence.

He who knows is knowledge; the self does not become a knower with knowledge as an unrelated instrument.

The very self develops knowledge, and all the objects stand (reflected) in the knowledge.

In the absence of the self there cannot be (any) knowledge; therefore, knowledge is the self..."

(The Concept Of Embodied Soul And Liberated Soul In Jain Philosophy by Dr. Mahavir Saran Jain - more at www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=67938 )

 

This picture was shot at sunset under Gwalior Fort where 24 Jain thirthankara (saint) rockcut statues are overlooking the city of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh since the seventh century a.d...

View On Black

 

Life on a city sidewalk

12c - 15c Church of St Mary Magdalene, Twyning Gloucestershire . A minster (monasterium) church was in existence here pre 740 . A saxon charter records that "Aelfred,king='s earldorman gave to his daughter abbess Aethelburg for her lifetime , with remainder to the church of Worcester the minster at Tweoneum with the land belonging to it. There was also a holy well nearby named after St Chad visited by the saint when he was Bishop of Bristol

In 10c during an era of Viking unrest , the minster survived and was one of the main ecclesiastical estates of Winchcombe Abbey. Today its site is not known for certain.

A Norman church was built c1100

The nave north wall has 12c pilaster & one small blocked 12c round-headed window to the left of the porch. The 5 large round-headed windows are 19c.

Alterations took place in 13c including the building of the 1250 tower, - and again in 15c .

By 1309 its fortunes had declined, the church was exempted from paying tax as it was not provided with a benefice and a royal pardon was given to parson William de Boys for outlawry because of deception.

The Black Death in 1349-50 caused many deaths.

In 1352 William de Sherbourne, Abbot of Winchcombe was found guilty of embezzlement and was banished here to live on the fruits of the manor "without let or disturbance".

In 1374 the prior of Worcester issued orders to the Dean of Pershore to confiscate and sell the fruits of Twyning for repairs to the church, made necessary by the rector's neglect. The sheriff of Worcester came to arrest rector Robert de Iddebury for stubborn disobedience. . It was recorded that "it had been for a long time destitute of the care of a priest and as the buildings of the same in a great part had utterly collapsed, the fruits of the church were placed in the barns of the same, which were unroofed and dilapidated, so that by the rain falling in on them, they were wholly and daily damaged and would in a short time be undoubtedly destroyed"

After the Dissolution of Winchombe Abbey in 1546, the ecclesiastical manor here was split up , the rector to Christchurch Oxford which is still patron, the manor to Sir Ralf Sadler of Sudely .

Complaints were made to Christchurch in 1563 that there had not been a sermon for a year and that Christchurch should pay one fifteenth of the benefice instead of nothing. In 1569 the vicar was sent away for solemnising marriages without publishing the banns , and by 1586 when a new vicar came the chancel had fallen into decay which had started at least by 1573.........

By 1803 the church interior had been extensively repaired and the walls stuccoed. Previously the pews were described as being very old and of different sizes, heights and patterns. A new gallery was built at the west end seating 100 people. The roof of the nave was coved and plastered above the tie beams.

The chancel with vestry was rebuilt 1867-8 during the restoration by John Middleton at a cost of £1,350 , the rest was "improved" at a cost of £2300 raised by public subscription .

In 1886 Mrs Ann Townend of Puckrup Hall funded the organ and chamber, together with the chancel seats and screen. The porch were added at the same time.

 

There are 8 bells , six of which date from 1723 one inscribed "Peace and Good Neighbourhood" are on a 1475 frame, parts of which may be 13c.. The remaining 2 bells are modern on a steel frame.

The clock mechanism is 19c and is a successor to earlier clocks from at least 16c

There are 2 monuments worth a mention -

William Hancock 1627 & his 2 sons www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/77y624 & 19 year old Sybil Clare 1575 lying with her still-born daughter Anne www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/4X75S5

.... existence !!

A side-product of my last weeks session on "Reflection / Mirroring" I didn't want to hold back;)

 

Technical: Tripod, f/4, 1/180s, ISO100, 100mm, Speedlite 430EXII flash, editing with Aperture

 

"We're losing our place in a world that no longer needs us. A world that now spurns our very existence. You should know that as well as I do. After I launch this weapon and get our billion dollars, we'll be able to bring chaos and honor back to this world gone soft."

 

— Liquid Snake

  

Liquid Snake, commonly referred to as Liquid, was the former squad commander of High-Tech Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND, and the twin brother of Solid Snake.

 

Liquid was one of the "Sons of Big Boss," created as part of the Les Enfants Terribles project, along with his clone brothers, Solid Snake and Solidus Snake. Liquid was led to believe that he was created in order to express Big Boss's recessive genetic traits, and as such, was "inferior" to Solid Snake. Because of this, he held a strong resentment towards his twin brother, who supposedly expressed "superior" genes, and wished to defeat him in combat, reclaiming what he felt was his birthright, and thus proving his superiority.

 

Possessing an IQ of 180, Liquid spoke seven languages fluently, including English, Spanish, French, Malay, and Arabic, the last of which he spoke like a native. His main language, English, was also spoken with an English accent of the Received Pronunciation dialect. He was almost an exact double of Solid Snake in terms of appearance, with the only distinguishable feature being his darker skin tone and fair hair color. He also had a tattoo on his left arm, which resembled the Rod of Asclepius, but with a sword in its place and with the words "Temptation Revelation."

please comment if you like!

 

Architects: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, 2008.

 

Some architectural projects are given birth in unfortunate circumstances around them and are not able to shake these off throughout their existence. We may be witnessing this phenomenon in case of Oxley Woods.

An award winning prefabricated scheme with affordable energy measures built-in, was announced with a lot of political fanfare and now seems to be heading towards choppy seas of litigations and a triumph for “I told you so” army.

Taylor Wimpey, one of the largest house builders are hardly known for their cutting edge architectural and design led offerings. Perhaps the modernity surrounding Milton Keynes recent birth yet to celebrate its first half century encouraged them to take this rare trail blazing route. Perhaps they imagined an unbroken production line of flat packed profitable houses covering acres of green fields and selling like hot cakes all over the country.

For spectators on the side lines this was quite an amazing start but the mismatch of developers name and past portfolio with a scheme upsetting all rules of British taste of acceptability for millions living in their beloved ‘castles’ was hardly going to avoid ‘Legoland’ jibes.

This was bound to upset many proud owners who chose to live in the mutual security of near identical brand new replicas of ‘Tudor and Village Green’ houses up and down the country. The weirdo architects proposing alien designs and misguided people living in them and liking these monstrosities needed thrashing to bring them to their senses.

More photos here.

 

APPROXIMATE RELEASE DATE: 2016-

HEAD MOLD: "Sonali"

 

PERSONAL FUN FACT: Once in a while, there is a doll that we feel needs to be in existence, yet he/she has not been created. There have only been a handful of circumstances over the years when this has been true of myself. Usually, I am more than content with what is already available on the market. The two instances that both stand out in my memory that contradict this both involve American Girls. As a kid, I remember that Dad would often muse about how the American Girl collection didn’t feature a Native American character. He was insistent that a Native American was a necessity to the line, and that you couldn’t get any more “American” than she would be. I would intently listen to Dad as he talked about history and how important this potential Native American doll would be. I absorbed it all like a sponge, and when American Girl finally did announce their Native American character, both Dad and I were elated. Kaya was the doll that always “should have been” while I was growing up. As an adult, I had similar feelings, but towards another era in American history. I pondered why the Civil Rights time period of the 60s had not been covered. It seemed like such an obvious choice, especially since there were hardly an African American dolls in the collection. Instead of Dad and me sharing these ramblings, it was Colleen and me discussing how badly we wanted a 1960s African American doll. As I ventured into collecting vintage Barbies from this period circa 2011, it made me crave an 18” sized counterpart--I loved the style of the clothes and fashion from the 1960s. Instead, American Girl seemed to be swept up in releasing dolls from different decades, and for a while, I accepted that a Civil Rights doll might not ever come into fruition.

 

In 2016, I finally heard the news I had been waiting for all that time. During the winter, there was an announcement that a new doll would be introduced to the line, and that she would be from the Civil Rights era. Both Colleen and I were over the moon, and we frequently found ourselves daydreaming about what this doll would look like. I’m not normally the kind of collector to get caught up in future releases. Nor am I the sort of person who tracks down any shred of information I can about a doll that has yet to come into existence. But with this Civil Rights era gal, I just couldn’t help myself. I found that I was often on the hunt for any intel I could get a hold of--leaked images, a name, something...anything. The first thing that appeared online was a preorder of Melody’s book, which I believe was available on Amazon. Colleen and I fawned over the adorable African American girl’s cartoon. I couldn’t think of a sweeter, more beautiful character in the entire collection. I had high hopes for Melody Ellison--I even loved her name! As time progressed, we began to talk more seriously about Melody’s release. Back in 2016, the American Girl Store was still open, although it was over an hour away. We had not decided if we wanted to order the doll the day she was released, or if we’d have to drive out to get her in person since we were too ancy to wait. But we were almost 100% certain that we would be getting Melody that summer. She was going to be released shortly after my birthday--her arrival would be the perfect gift for me! Addy after all, was my very first American Girl, who I got for my sixth birthday.

 

Sometimes life throws a wrench into your plans. That’s what happened with Melody...I guess all my high expectations were bound to catch up with me. As Melody’s release date neared, American Girl finally shared images of the doll online via a news segment. Colleen and I eagerly tracked down the video as soon as we had time to spare. I was quaking with anticipation--I absolutely had to know what this mystery doll would look like. The fact that I’d seen her “meet” outfit and the general appearance of the character’s cartoon had only made me that much more excited. However, when I saw Melody for the first time, I felt very underwhelmed. I wouldn’t say that I disliked her--after all, American Girl dolls are American Girl dolls. They all have a classic look about them, so it’s hard to make one “ugly.” I think the main thing that took me aback was the choice in head mold. Melody was clearly sporting the “Sonali” mold, which is more popular it seems with collectors. I had been anticipating the “Addy” sculpt, since it seemed like it better suited the cartoon. Between her unexpected head mold and the odd clothing choices, I was honestly disappointed.

 

Although Melody did not live up to my initial expectations, I didn’t fester in the disappointment. I decided that I would not go out and get her when she was released. I also came to the conclusion that I would not focus on disliking her either, simply because she wasn’t the doll I was planning on. Even though she wasn’t my cup of tea (at the time), I knew that there was a possibility that Melody would warm up to me. I usually am the sort of person who needs time to “get to know” a doll--I’m a massive fan of shelf warmers. Not only that, but I felt it was a huge leap that a Civil Rights era doll had been created, so I wasn’t going to trash her. As much as I wanted to love everything about Miss Ellison, I just felt she was a tad lackluster, and I thought it was best not to spend a small fortune on acquiring her just yet. If I did later get Melody, I wanted to occasion to be a purely happy one--not a purchase that was dampened by the clouds of shattered expectations. Despite this decision, however, I feel it was always somewhat of an unspoken agreement between me and Colleen that Melody would inevitably be part of the collection someday. It was a matter of “if” it was more a matter of “when.”

 

It was almost three years from the time Melody was released that we finally took the plunge to get her. The early summer of 2019 was unexpectedly the perfect time to welcome Melody into our dolly family. It all started with a silly conversation between me and Colleen. We were discussing how sometimes online, people can take a positive attitude the wrong way and twist things. As a doll social media participant, I have always made it my priority to focus on the fun, passion, and innocence of the hobby. Sure, we all have opinions and things we like/dislike, but I’ve felt for many years that dolls were often made into a needlessly “political” topic. Sometimes my efforts to focus on what I like and my laid back attitude towards collecting can be misconstrued. I suppose that people twist this to mean that I don’t understand what it’s like to be disappointed, to want something right away, or to just flat out not like something. Colleen and I were conversing about this misunderstanding one summer afternoon when Melody’s name popped up into the conversation. I remember saying something along the lines of, “Of course I am human and I’ve been disappointed. For instance, we were both so excited about Melody and had even talked about getting her. But then when we finally saw photos of the doll, we both felt let down and didn’t think she was worth spending over $100 on.” My point in the talk had been basically something along the lines of that I am human and feel negative things sometimes, but that it’s silly to focus on the dolls that you don’t like or that “let you down” when doll collecting is something we choose to invite into our lives, presumably with the intent to bring joy. I was referencing how I moved on quickly from the Melody situation, rather than gossiping and complaining with other collectors about how she was disappointing, which could have in turn made someone else feel bad for wanting her. Anyways, because Melody’s name had been brought up, I couldn’t help but start thinking of her all day. This seemingly innocent, irrelevant conversation planted a seed in my head.

 

The more I brewed over Melody, the more I realized that I was over my initial feelings for her. By this time in 2019, I was on the mission to get Cecile Rey--another African American doll with the “Sonali” head mold. Due to my Cecile obsession, I had grown accustomed to the different head mold, and even found it to be really beautiful. There also weren’t many active historical characters available anymore for me to enjoy anymore either (dolls that I had anyways). So it occurred to me that I really should get Melody. I loved the idea of her shorter textured hair. It would have the fun styling, and unique look of Addy’s tresses, without the unmanageable length. Not to mention, I had warmed up to her clothes in the time since Melody had been released. In particular, I really liked her Play Outfit, since the bright colors complimented her skin tone so well. Colleen seemed to be on board with the idea--she always knew I’d come around and eventually buy Melody. The moment finally happened one Friday night. The day had been a disastrous one, filled with annoying adulthood problems and stresses (let’s just say taking your vehicle for a routine oil change/inspection sticker can become a fiasco). I was feeling a little deflated and anxious, and decided to peruse eBay. I wasn’t honestly planning on buying anything. My days of being an emotional, impulsive shopper were long over. But I just so happened to find the PERFECT Melody doll. She was being sold by a fellow adult collector, with her Holiday Outfit and Fancy Coat. Melody herself was in pristine condition--you could tell that she had probably only been changed a handful of times in her short life. She was such a bargain too--to make matters even more enticing, she also had a “Make Offer” option. So Colleen and I decided to see if we could get her a bit cheaper, and the seller counter offered (I always offer a little cheaper than I expect to get, since most sellers will counteroffer). I couldn’t believe my luck--this really was the perfect time to get Melody.

 

The day Melody arrived was magical--she was the first American Girl doll that I had hand picked out for myself since 2016 ironically (when Colleen let me get Caroline off eBay for my birthday). All the other dolls had been acquisitions by chance--typically inexpensive secondhand finds. The summer before we definitely did not have the budget for anything American Girl, let alone such a pristine doll. I felt so lucky and grateful that Melody was finally part of the family. She arrived looking as cute as a button, wrapped in a cocoon of bubble wrap. I fell in love most of all with her delicate, textured locks, which grace the tops of her shoulders. I was floored by the quality of the garments I’d gotten with my doll. Her Fancy Coat in particular blew me away. It also worked out wonderfully that my doll didn’t arrive with her original book. In 2016, before Melody was even out, Colleen had gotten her book for free in exchange for assisting at a school book fair. Although our initial meeting was brief, since I literally had to leave for my dentist appointment right after opening her, I felt so sure I’d made the right decision. I also admit that I was “bad” and found a few outfit deals for her on eBay within the next few days after ordering Melody herself. So I got to open some clothes for her over the course of the next week or so--each one I absolutely adored. Seeing her dressed up in all the various outfits from her wardrobe, made me fall even more in love with Miss Melody. I can’t say that she was what I initially expected back in 2016--but sometimes it’s the things we don’t anticipate that we cherish most of all.

 

Again in Bassano after 6 years. View from the old wooden bridge

***

The city was founded in the 2nd century BCE by a Roman called Bassianus, whence the name, as an agricultural estate. The first news of the existence of the medieval city dates from 998, while the Castle is mentioned first in 1150. In 1175 Bassano was conquered by Vicenza, but the city maintained a semi-autonomous status as a free commune. In 1368 it was acquired by the Visconti of Milan and, in 1404, by the Republic of Venice: The city became home to a flourishing industry producing wool, silk, iron and copper, and mainly for ceramics; in the 18th became especially famous in all Europe for the presence of the Remondini printers. During the French Revolutionary Wars the city was the seat of the Battle of Bassano. In 1815 it was included in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, and became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1866. Napoleon Bonaparte remained in Bassano del Grappa for many months.

 

Source: WIKIPEDIA

Location: Jaleshwaritola,

Bogra, Bangladesh.

Date: 21 August, 2011

                

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Caution: DO NOT use, copy or download this image without

proper permission. Using this photo without proper permission

would be the violation of INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW.

© All Rights Are Reserved

Please seek my permission to publish it anywhere.

:::::::::::::: [Nafiul] ::::::::::::::

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Contact no: +8801671006300

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Explored

#272

May 19, 2009

 

This is a repost...

Tried some crop and cut down some exposure.

  

The Northwestern League was a professional, minor baseball league that lasted from 1905 to 1917. It was represented by teams based in Washington, Montana, Oregon and British Columbia. The league became the Pacific Coast International League in 1918 - Seattle Turks (1909), Seattle Giants (1910-1917),

 

The Seattle Turks were a minor league baseball team based in Seattle, Washington who played a single season (1909) in the Northwestern League. In their only year of existence, the team won a Northwestern League pennant with a record of 109-58.

 

The Seattle Giants were a minor league baseball team that played in various leagues from 1910 to 1920. Based in Seattle, Washington, United States, they played in the Northwestern League from 1910 to 1917, the Pacific Coast International League in 1918 and 1920, and the Northwest International League in 1919. Two of their ballparks were Yesler Way Park and Dugdale Field. In 1919, they were also known as the Seattle Drydockers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe / Joseph Seaton

Positions: Relief Pitcher / Third Baseman / Right Field

Bats: Unknown • Throws: Right

Height - 5' 7" / Weight in 1942 was 190 pounds - when he played he was much lighter...

Born: January 30, 1888 in Knoxville, TN (all of his military records confirm he was born in 1888 not 1889)

Died: January 12, 1964 (Aged 74) in San Francisco, CA

Buried: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA

Full Name: Joseph Loys Seaton

 

Link to his minor league stats - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=seaton...

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(The Spokane Press, August 08, 1908) - DUGDALE SIGNS JOE SEATON - Joe Seaton, City league twirler, has been signed by D. E. Dugdale of Seattle and will be In uniform. Seaton held the Indians down to five hits when the Bradley Engineers played them.

 

(The Salt Lake Tribune., August 12, 1908) - Seaton Wins His Game - SEATTLE, Aug. 11. Joe Seaton, a Spokane boy, held Butte to three hits, and Seattle won by a score of 5 to 2. A batting rally in the seventh settled the contest, four hits, an error and a wild pitch. - also this report was filed - Joe Seaton, the City league twirler hired by Manager Dugdale of Seattle, held Butte down to three hits yesterday and Seattle won 5 to 2. Two of the hits off Seaton were doubles. Seattle got nine hits off Claflin.

 

(The Spokane Press, August 20, 1908) - ANOTHER FOR SEATON - Joe Seaton held the Tacoma Tigers down to five measly hits yesterday and Seattle won 4 to 1. Seaton is the City leaguer Manager Quinn had a chance to get. Quinn couldn't see anything to his work despite the fact that when the Bradley Engineers played the Indians Seaton kept the hits down to five. Eddie Quinn has done a lot of experimenting, but for some reason or other did not experiment with Joe. You can't always pick the aces.

 

(The Spokane Press, October 26, 1908) - SEATON SHOWS STRONGEST - Joe Seaton, who went from the City league to Seattle, pitched for the Bradleys against the Cubs at Natatorium Park yesterday and didn't allow a hit. Vic Holm, of the Indians, pitched for the Cubs and the Bradleys found him for eight hits. Score Bradleys, 6; Cubs, 1. An error by Kennedy allowed the Cubs their run. Joe Seaton struck out 10 men.

 

(Daily capital Journal, March 11, 1910) - KID SEATON A WONDER - Los Angeles, Cal., March 11. Little Joe Seaton, pride of Dougdale's Seattle Northwesterners, is the talk of the local baseball world today. Seaton's performance against the Chicago White Sox at Long Beach Wednesday, when he held the Easterners to five dinky bingles, and only missed a shutout because of one wild pitch, is regarded here as being the more to his credit in view of the fact that he had a half club at his back. In the eight inning of Wednesday's game at Long Beach, Seaton performed the unusual feat of striking

out three Sox in a row, with men occupying third and second bases. The beauty of his work, the fans declared, was the fact that in the nine strikes, the three Sox took but two "called" by the umpire. The other seven were lusty swings. Seaton at present is holding out from the Seattle club. It Is whispered here that his work of yesterday is likely to make Dougdale see his terms.

 

(Morning Oregonian, June 29, 1910) - SEATTLE. Wash., June 28. Annis was effective after the first inning today, while Joe Seaton was clouted hard and consistently by Tacoma and the visitors won a listless game, Tacoma 7 to Seattle 2.

 

(Morning Oregonian, June 30, 1910) - SEATON WINS FOR SEATTLE - With Game Almost Won by Tacoma, Hit Takes Victory. SEATTLE, Wash., June 29. With the score 3 to 2 in Tacoma's favor, Joe Seaton was put In to bat for Joe Custer in the last half of the ninth inning today and a combination of hits and errors followed that enabled Seattle to win the game, 4 to 3.

 

(Morning Oregonian, July 14, 1910) - JOE SEATON WINS GAME ALONE - Player Takes All Four Runs Made by Seattle. SPOKANE. July 13. Joe Seaton proved to be be big card in the game today and by his heavy stick work managed to get all four of the runs that were made by the Seattle team. Seaton cracked out two three-baggers with a man on base each time and scored himself after both hits. Dow, the young Turk, pitched nice ball for the champions and was strong In pinches. Score: Seattle 4 - Spokane 2.

 

(The Tacoma Times, September 26, 1910) - Seaton Throws

Ball Farthest - SEATTLE. Sept. 26.—In the field day closing the baseball season here yesterday Joe Seaton was the star. He won the throwing contest and Netzel was second, Seaton, Cruikshank and Weed tied running the bases, each crossing the pan in 15 1/2 seconds.

 

(Los Angeles Herald, 26 October 1910) - Joe Seaton of the Seattle Northwest league club is tho latest of the winter colony to arrive in the city of the Angels. Seaton got in yesterday and declares that there is no place like Southern California. Joe, after pitching swell ball here during the last winter even defeating the Chicago White Sox in that memorable game at Long Beach, got away lo a bad start this spring and went to playing the outfield. He was stationed in right field during the greater part of last season and likes the outer gardening so well that he has about decided to give up pitching.

 

(The Sunday Oregonian, March 26, 1911) - Joe Seaton, who spent most of last season in right field. Is pitching again this season, and is showing the best form of his career.

 

(Morning Oregonian, April 28, 1911) - SEATTLE IS VICTOR - Roadsters Succumb to Joe Seaton's Curves - PORTLAND IS SHUT OUT - SEATTLE, Wash. 27. Seaton's spitball proved the undoing of Portland much to the delight of a large gallery of the latest millinery and a fair sprinkling of the plainclothes people. Until the ninth verse, the Roadsters had amassed only one bingle off Little Joe, but then Mensor cracked a hot one that split Joe's third finger of the right hand and put him on the hospital list, along with Butler, who mangled the day previous, Seaton, however, refused to surrender his post and finished the game without a run. Score Seattle 6 - Portland 0.

 

(The Sunday Oregonian, December 03, 1911) - When D. E. Dugdale, the Seattle magnate, was In Portland a few hours Friday, he Imparted the information that he had traded Pitcher Joe Seaton to Vancouver for Roy Wlllett, the ex Portland and Vernon twirler.

 

(The Sunday Oregonian, January 07, 1912) - Walter McCredie thinks Dave Dugdale pulled a "bone head" stunt when he traded Joe Seaton to Vancouver for Roy Willett. "Seaton appealed to me as a much better pitcher than was Willett," said the Beaver leader commenting on the trade, "and if it was up to me I'd give all the fellows like Willett on my team to get as good a chap as this Seaton in exchange. Dug thinks Willett is a good utility man, but to my mind he is not half as good as Joe Seaton, who can pitch as well as play the other positions."

 

(Morning Oregonian, January 27, 1913) - Last season Seattle traded Pitcher Joe Seaton to Vancouver for Willett. Seaton proved a fizzle at Vancouver and Willett refused to report. Willett is now wintering at Trinidad, Colo., and has written that he wants to trade himself to some Eastern club. Dugdale has given consent.

 

(Los Angeles Herald, 21 April 1915) - TOM SEATON’S BROTHER IN RIO GRANDE LEAGUE - Joe Seaton, brother of Tom Seaton, the National league heaver, who jumped to the Federals, is in Los Angeles and will leave soon to join the El Paso team in the Rio Grande league. Joe Seaton pitches and plays third base.

 

THE DEBATE:

 

Ron Harris (atheist)

Stated in common sense, plain language, the salvation story is pure nonsense.

________________________________________________

7tenths (atheist)

Well said...pure man-made fiction...by ignorant men.

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budderflyman (atheist)

I was actually told by a priest who later became an archbishop that the Church believes Mary was 12 when she became impregnated. Now, either Joseph, God, or the angel Gabriel was a child molester. Or, more likely, the whole story was made up.

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Truth in science (theist)

Atheism revealed as false- why God MUST exist

www.flickr.com/photos/101536517@N06/15818838060

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

How can atheism be revealed as "false"? Atheism is very much real. It is a belief in the non existence of any gods. It is a true belief system.

 

Where is your evidence for a prime mover?

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

 

Logic, natural law and fundamental principles of science prove that atheism is false.

 

The law of cause and effect (which is the premier law, basic to all science and applicable to all natural entities) demonstrates that God (the supernatural first cause) must exist. That law alone exposes atheism as false, illogical nonsense.

 

Consider this simple, short chain of causes and effects:

A causes B, - B causes C, - C causes D, - D causes E.

 

‘A, B, C & D’ are all causes and may all look similar, but they are not, there is an enormous and crucial difference.

Causes B, C & D are fundamentally different from cause ‘A’. Why?

Because ‘A’ is the very first cause and thus had no previous cause. It exists without a cause. It doesn't rely on anything else for its existence, it is completely independent of causes - while B, C & D would not exist without ‘A’. They are entirely dependent on ‘A’.

The causes; B, C & D are also effects, whereas ‘A’ is not an effect, only a cause. So we can say that the first cause ‘A’ is both self-existent and necessary. It is necessary because the rest of the chain of causes and effects could not exist without it. We can also say that the subsequent causes and effects B, C, D & E are all contingent. That is; they are not self-existent they all depend entirely on other causes to exist. We must also say that ‘A’ is eternally self-existent, i.e. it has always existed, it had no beginning.

Why?

Because if ‘A’ came into being at some point, there must have been something other than itself that brought it into being, which would mean ‘A’ was not the first cause (‘A’ could not create ‘A’). The something that brought ‘A’ into being would be the first cause. In which case, ‘A’ would be contingent and no different from B, C, D & E. We also have to say that ‘A’ has to be adequate to produce all the properties of B, C, D & E.

Why?

Well, in the case of E, we can see that it relies entirely on D for its existence.

E can in no way be superior to D, because D had to contain within itself everything necessary to produce E.

The same applies to D, it cannot be superior to C. Furthermore neither E or D can be superior to C, because both rely on C for their existence, and C had to contain everything necessary to produce D & E.

Likewise with B, which is responsible for the existence of C, D & E.

As they all depend on ‘A’ for their existence and for all their properties, abilities and potentials, none can be superior to ‘A’ whether singly or combined.

‘A’ had to contain everything necessary to produce B, C, D & E, including all their properties, abilities and potentials.

 

Thus we deduce that; nothing in the universe can be superior in any way to the very first cause of the universe. Because the whole universe, and all material things that exist, depend entirely on the abilities and properties of the first cause to produce them.

 

Conclusion… A first cause must be uncaused, must have always existed, and cannot be in any way inferior to all subsequent causes and effects. In other words, the first cause of the universe must be eternally, self-existent and omnipotent (greater than anything that exists).

Natural law and fundamental principles of science tell us; that NO ‘natural’ entity can possibly have those attributes.

That is why a Supernatural, Creator God MUST exist - and atheism is revealed as false.

 

In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell

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Ron Harris (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

How is causality a "chain"? At best you can trace back some necessary conditions for a given event that seems chainlike. Without a chain of causes you cannot have "superior" causes.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to Ron Harris (atheist)

 

The law of cause and effect, which is the fundamental principle behind scientific research, tells us that every natural effect/event/entity has to have an adequate cause.

 

Therefore we must be able to trace every effect and its cause/s back through time (however long the chain of causes and effects) to an original first cause.

 

If you believe in the big bang, for example, the initial explosion would have caused the expansion of matter, which was subsequently caused (presumably by gravity) to coalesce into cosmic bodies, and so on through numerous other causes - one or more causes leading to other cause/s in a chain right up to the origin of the Earth and first life - and (if you believe in evolution) then through a chain of causes right up to human life. Whether there is one or more chains of causes happening at the same time, or even causes that combine or overlap, doesn't make any difference. At some stage they all originate from an original, first cause, and science tells us that nothing that follows the first cause can be superior to it. The effect cannot be greater than the cause.

So the first cause has to embody everything we see in the universe, all properties, powers, qualities and potentialities.

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Ron Harris (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

An "adequate" cause? Do you mean the cause must be sufficient for its effect? If so, that has nothing to do with tracing back along a chain of necessary conditions to the earliest necessary condition.

 

"The effect cannot be greater than the cause. So the first cause has to embody everything we see in the universe, all properties, powers, qualities and potentialities."

 

What do you mean by the effect not being greater than its cause? In what respect must a cause be greater than any of its effects? Must a cause be greater than any of its effects in every way? What about those ways that are not comparable? Have you taken into account "emergence"? For example, the momentum of the particles of a gas colliding with the walls of its container generates (causes) pressure. So is the momentum of the particles greater than the pressure they generate in all important respects? These are incommensurable properties: how can you compare them for this lesser/greater relation?

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Truth in science (theist) reply to Ron Harris (atheist)

You wrote:

What do you mean by the effect not being greater than its cause? In what respect must a cause be greater than any of its effects?

 

I didn't say a cause must be greater than its effects. It is the other way round. An effect cannot be greater than its cause/s.

 

Most effects we see today, are not due to a single cause, they have a combination of several causes. Included in those causes are the inherent properties of the entity involved, which are described by natural laws.

If an apple falls off a tree, for example, there are many causes, some are inherent properties of the tree and of matter. The causes range from the tree growing from an original seed which has landed on the ground, being watered and nourished by rain and soil, its flowers being pollinated, forming a fruit (apple) and when ripe, being caused by gravity to fall to the ground.

 

Probably a better example would be the act of striking a match and causing a forest fire.

It could be said that the effect, i.e. the forest fire is far greater than the act of striking a match. But, of course, it isn't that simple, because the match is not the only cause.

The inflammable material has been formed over many years of the trees growing and building up a store of energy from the Sun and soil. The match is simply a trigger which causes the energy stored in all the trees to be released in a forest fire.

 

When we talk about the very first cause, that is a completely different matter, because it is a single cause that is solely responsible for every effect that follows it..

It is the cause of everything, even the inherent properties of natural entities, such as natural laws, which can eventually act as contributing causes themselves.

So nothing in the universe can ever be greater than the first cause, because it is the only cause responsible for the whole universe. The cause of its properties, its structure, its laws, its qualities, its powers, its potentialities and even of time.

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Ron Harris (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

"When we talk about the very first cause, that is a completely different matter, because it is a single cause that is solely responsible for every effect that follows it..

It is the cause of everything, even the inherent properties of natural entities, such as natural laws, which can eventually act as causes themselves."

 

Pure speculation.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to Ron Harris (atheist)

 

It is not speculation it is a logical conclusion.

If you don't agree that the first cause is responsible for everything it causes.

Then tell me why you don't agree with it?

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Ron Harris (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

But you are making an exception by claiming that there is a first cause and that that first cause is different from other causes. How do you know that there is a first cause and that it is different from other causes? If all you use is the cosmological argument, you are still making an exception of the first cause.

 

Regarding that argument, you wrote earlier: "At some stage they all originate from an original, first cause, and science tells us that nothing that follows the first cause can be superior to it. The effect cannot be greater than the cause."

 

I still don't get how you can justify the claim that "science tells us that nothing that follows the first cause can be superior to it." Really?! Science shows this? You need to show why this is so and not pure speculation.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to Ron Harris (atheist)

 

You asked:

"How do you know that there is a first cause and that it is different from other causes?"

 

Because everything in the natural realm is contingent. Every natural entity/event/effect has to have an adequate or sufficient cause. Contingency is an inherent property of ALL natural things.

It is summed up in the law of cause and effect which is the fundamental principle of the scientific method.

There is no such thing as an autonomous, non-contingent natural entity, to suggest that goes against scientific principles.

So, obviously, as all natural entities are contingent (they all rely on causes), if we trace back all causes in the universe we must eventually reach a first cause, however long the chain of causes, it must have a beginning, at some stage, in a very first cause.

The very fist cause cannot be contingent, it has no cause, if it did it wouldn't be the first cause. So it is uncaused, and therefore cannot be a natural entity. It has to be unique, there is no other cause like it, It is autonomous and is not dependant on any cause for its existence. Thus we can say it is self-existent and has always existed.

 

You wrote:

"I still don't get how you can justify the claim that "science tells us that nothing that follows the first cause can be superior to it." Really?! Science shows this? You need to show why this is so and not pure speculation."

 

An effect cannot be greater than its cause/s.

That is a fundamental principle of the scientific method also summed up in the law of cause and effect.

The very first cause is the cause of everything in the natural world, and has to be entirely adequate for the purpose of producing everything in the natural world. So nothing in the natural world can be greater or superior to that initial cause of everything. If it was, it would be a violation of the law of cause and effect and a fundamental principle of science.

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Ron Harris (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

You wrote: "There is no such thing as an autonomous, non-contingent natural entity, to suggest that goes against scientific principles."

 

What scientific principles?

 

By "autonomous" do you mean that the being is able to function wholly independent of the rest of the universe? Or do you mean something more limited?

 

"So, obviously, as all natural entities are contingent (they all rely on causes), if we trace back all causes in the universe we must eventually reach a first cause..."

 

Something is "contingent" simply because it is caused? Why? Because the cause need not have been? So the return of Hailey's comet in 2061 or thereabouts is not fully determined by forces external to it because those forces need not operate?

 

From your last paragraph:

"An effect cannot be greater than its cause/s.

That is a fundamental principle of the scientific method also summed up in the law of cause and effect."

 

In response to that paragraph, I repeat what I wrote before: I still don't get how you can justify the claim that "science tells us that nothing that follows the first cause can be superior to it." Really?! Science shows this? You need to show why this is so and not pure speculation.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to Ron Harris (atheist)

I wrote:

"There is no such thing as an autonomous, non-contingent natural entity, to suggest that goes against scientific principles."

You asked?

"What scientific principles?"

 

The fundamental principle of science is the law of cause and effect. All scientific research depends on it.

The modus operandi of the scientific method is looking for adequate causes for EVERY natural occurrence.

An autonomous or non-contingent, natural entity violates that principle. All natural entities, effects and events rely on a preceding cause or causes.

Which means a non-contingent natural entity is impossible as far as science is concerned.

To suggest an autonomous or non-contingent natural entity or occurrence is like harking back to pre-scientific (pagan) times, when people believed in the vagaries of nature. The belief that natural things could simply act autonomously and independently without any apparent preceding cause or causes.

 

You wrote:

"By "autonomous" do you mean that the being is able to function wholly independent of the rest of the universe? Or do you mean something more limited?"

 

Natural entities cannot be autonomous because they limited by natural laws that are based on their respective, inherent properties. And being contingent they are entirely dependent on that which causes them.

 

I wrote:

"So, obviously, as all natural entities are contingent (they all rely on causes), if we trace back all causes in the universe we must eventually reach a first cause..."

You answered :

"Something is "contingent" simply because it is caused? Why? Because the cause need not have been? So the return of Hailey's comet in 2061 or thereabouts is not fully determined by forces external to it because those forces need not operate?"

 

I don’t understand what you mean by that. The velocity and trajectory of Haley’s comet is entirely subject to causes, it doesn’t act independently or autonomously.

 

I wrote:

"An effect cannot be greater than its cause/s.

That is a fundamental principle of the scientific method also summed up in the law of cause and effect."

You answered:

"In response to that paragraph, I repeat what I wrote before: I still don't get how you can justify the claim that "science tells us that nothing that follows the first cause can be superior to it." Really?! Science shows this? You need to show why this is so and not pure speculation."

 

An effect cannot be greater than its cause/s.

That is an absolutely fundamental principle of science.

The very first cause is responsible for EVERY cause and effect that follows it. So it is obvious that no effect, arising anywhere in the chain of causes and effects that follows the first cause, can ever be greater, in any respect, than that which ultimately caused it and the rest of the chain of causes and effects.

 

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

You have no idea what happens when a star implodes, for example. We don't know if the known laws of physics apply to black holes or to other universes. You have no evidence at all for any god, gods, or other entities being the "very first" cause of anything. BTW, "very first" is redundant. It's either the first or it isn't. And there is no reason to believe there has to have been a first cause. There may always have been something, as I have said before. You cannot prove me wrong about this.

 

It's been a pleasant three weeks without reading your B.S.

 

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

 

Oh! you're back with your mumbo jumbo and pseudoscience.

 

You wrote:

"We don't know if the known laws of physics apply to black holes or to other universes"

 

There you go again, challenging natural laws, because they don't suit your ideology.

What we definitely DO KNOW - is that science only operates by looking for ADEQUATE CAUSES for EVERY natural occurrence. Science can't look for NON-CAUSES or INADEQUATE CAUSES which is precisely what your naturalistic ideology requires.

 

You wrote:

"BTW, "very first" is redundant. It's either the first or it isn't. And there is no reason to believe there has to have been a first cause"

 

I said 'VERY' first, because it seems atheists don't understand what 'FIRST' actually means. They keep on asking the same old, stupid question - what caused the first cause? They obviously think something has to precede something which is FIRST.

The word 'VERY' is there to emphasise the fact that if something is First nothing can precede it - I use it for the sake of atheists, who apparently find simple concepts such as the word FIRST actually meaning FIRST, rather difficult to grasp. So if you have an issue with the term 'very first' you need to discuss what 'first' actually means with your fellow atheists. When atheists stop asking the ridiculous question of what caused the first cause? Then I will stop using the term 'very' first.

 

You wrote:

"There may always have been something, as I have said before"

 

You're right, there was always something.

The first cause, by virtue of being VERY first, had no preceding cause and therefore has always existed, It is eternally self-existent and NON-CONTINGENT.

Which means the first cause (or whatever you like to call that which has always existed) cannot be something NATURAL, because ALL natural entities are CONTINGENT ...

That is not according to ME - it is according to SCIENCE, which you choose to dispute.

So your dispute is with the fundamental principles of science, not with me.

 

There probably are no atheists - So choose your god?

www.flickr.com/photos/101536517@N06/15875116723

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

All you write is "mumbo jumbo". And please stop inserting those hideous posters or whatever the hell they are. They interrupt the flow of this page, a page, btw, which does NOT belong to YOU. I would write on YOUR Flickr pages, but you have me blocked from doing so.

 

Look, you can rant all you want, but the fact of the matter is that you cannot prove that your god was the first cause of everything. Your god was invented by Jewish rabbis about 6,000 years ago. They got together and wrote the Old Testament. They did the best they could to account for the creation of the world. We are now in the year 2015. We realize the OT is filled with stories with little if any science.

 

If I had a colorful banner that said "Creationists are Ignorant of Science" I would place it here, but, unfortunately, I don't childishly keep such things around the house.

 

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

You wrote:

"If I had a colorful banner that said "Creationists are Ignorant of Science" I would place it here,"

 

You are the one who disputes natural laws and basic scientific principles - you have no defence for that.

Your only defence is to rant about the Bible.

I am sorry, but as I said before, your dispute is with natural laws and scientific principles, not with me, not with the Bible, not with creationists. You simply target those things to divert attention from the fact that you and your atheist cult are anti-science.

Atheism is simply the naturalist religion (which was debunked centuries ago) re-invented. You can try all you like to give it a 21st century gloss, but it is still the unscientific nonsense it always was.

I support natural laws and scientific principles, you denigrate them, and then masquerade as a champion of science. Atheism is based on lies and deceit, not science. You don't like my images because (with the description attached) they expose the lies, hypocrisy and unscientific nature of atheism.

 

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

You are hilarious. Typical right wing creationist trying to put a spin on science in his favor, yet is anti-science. Anyone who believes in sky hooks and sky fairies could not possibly know much about science.

 

Atheism is not a form of the ancient religion known as naturalism. Atheism has no belief system in anything religious or theistic. It's that simple. Most atheists tend to support science. I am sure there must be some out there who do not, but it has nothing to do with religion. I get tired of having to repeat myself, but the point is, we simply do not know what happened before the Big Bang. There is no evidence for any gods, however. And that is where my argument with you and the Bible rests. There is no evidence that your god said "Let there be light" or any other words in any other language. It is convenient to make up creation stories, just as some Hindus believe that the earth sits on the back of a giant turtle and that turtle sits on another world, and there is another turtle beneath that world, ad infinitum. It's conjecture, story telling, fable, myth, call it what you like, but do not call it "truth" because it is not.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

You wrote:

"It is convenient to make up creation stories, just as some Hindus believe that the earth sits on the back of a giant turtle and that turtle sits on another world, and there is another turtle beneath that world, ad infinitum. It's conjecture, story telling, fable, myth, call it what you like, but do not call it "truth" because it is not."

 

It is you who believes in unscientific fables and creation stories -such as: a universe creating itself from nothing, or a universe being created by "eternal, non-contingent alien species", or a universe which can rewind itself, or the spontaneous generation of life, or an uncaused natural first cause, or natural laws that magically don't apply, or an infinite number of universes, etc. There is not one scrap of evidence for any of your made-up creation stories, they are all unscientific nonsense, they are not only nonsense, they are ridiculous and ludicrous anti-science nonsense. They are every bit as ludicrous and unscientific as the giant turtle creation story.

 

You wrote:

"Atheism is not a form of the ancient religion known as naturalism"

 

Oh, so you deny that you believe in a natural, origin scenario for everything that exists, do you?

A natural origins scenario that defies natural laws and scientific principles is the essence of pagan naturalism.

That is what atheists believe in. But they think they can hoodwink the public by claiming that discredited idea is scientific.

Sorry to have to inform you, but the atheist tactic of resurrecting pagan naturalism in a different guise, has been sussed.

There is nothing 'scientific' about naturalism, it remains as it always was, illogical and unscientific nonsense.

 

You wrote:

"Anyone who believes in sky hooks and sky fairies could not possibly know much about science."

 

I see you are referring to your old, worn, dog-eared and well distressed, 'atheist responses handbook' again, you know the one that says: When the going gets tough, either rant about the Bible or use the good old standby of the sky fairy jibe. Not much originality there then!

BTW - could you please explain what a sky fairy is?

Because I don't know of any theist who believes in either sky fairies or sky hooks, or who even knows what they are supposed to be.

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

The Sky Fairy is how most Christians describe their god. A fairy is a mythical creature, such as an angel or god, who floats around "the heavens" and somehow keeps it eye on everyone and everything in the world (yet apparently allows evil, disease, accidents, early death, etc to occur despite heavy prayer on the part of the victims and their families and friends). The sky hook is just what it is, some invisible hook that keeps the fairies and angels suspended.

 

All I wrote was that most atheists do not believe in the age old religion of naturalism, which is the truth. Atheists have no religion. I know that it must be difficult for you to wrap your washed brain around this concept.

 

Your B.S. is old and worn. You are the one who makes extraordinary claims about a creator god, not I. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and you or anyone else has yet to present any.

 

Now, go back under your bridge, troll.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

You wrote:

"All I wrote was that most atheists do not believe in the age old religion of naturalism, which is the truth. Atheists have no religion. I know that it must be difficult for you to wrap your washed brain around this concept."

 

Yes, that is what you would like everyone to believe, anything to avoid having to justify your illogical belief in naturalism. Unfortunately for you, that little ruse has been exposed as bogus.

Naturalism = your belief, and that of the atheist cult, that 'nature' is responsible for the existence of everything - i.e. that nature (or Mother Nature) is a non-contingent, autonomous, all powerful entity - it is a belief that credits nature with all the attributes of a god.

Atheist naturalism is no different from pagan naturalism, naturalism per se IS a religious belief.

You can dress it up all you like, but the Emperor is revealed to have no clothes.

If you believe that nature created everything - and has the non-contingent, autonomous, eternally self-existent qualities that are attributed to a supernatural first cause - you effectively deify nature and matter.

Furthermore, because such beliefs demand that you disregard natural laws and scientific principles, they are based entirely on blind faith.

 

You wrote

"Your B.S. is old and worn. You are the one who makes extraordinary claims about a creator god, not I. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and you or anyone else has yet to present any."

 

You make the extraordinary claim that laws of nature and scientific principles did not apply to your naturalist version of the origin of the universe. That is an extraordinary claim par excellence.

You have presented no evidence whatsoever for that claim, it is all complete hogwash. All you can keep repeating is that it is the scientific viewpoint, which is absolute rubbish. It is the opposite of a scientific view, to dispute natural laws and scientific principles is ANTI-SCIENCE.

"Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence and you or anyone else has yet to present any."

Where then, is your evidence for the extraordinary claim that natural laws and fundamental principles of science didn't apply to the origin of the universe?

 

You wrote:

"The Sky Fairy is how most Christians describe their god. A fairy is a mythical creature, such as an angel or god, who floats around "the heavens" and somehow keeps it eye on everyone and everything in the world (yet apparently allows evil, disease, accidents, early death, etc to occur despite heavy prayer on the part of the victims and their families and friends). The sky hook is just what it is, some invisible hook that keeps the fairies and angels suspended. "

 

So the sky fairy and sky hook are both just more fantastical figments of the fertile, atheist imagination - based on their jaundiced and erroneous understanding of the supernatural first cause.

You wrote:

"A fairy is a mythical creature, such as an angel or god"

 

No, a fairy is a mythical creature based on so-called spirits of NATURE.

They are more akin to paganism and the naturalist religion which atheists subscribe to.

A modern version of the fairies myth, would be the (magical) mythological, non-contingent, alien species (space fairies?), which atheists believe could have created life on Earth.

Fairies have nothing to do with monotheism. In fact, belief in such things as nature spirits, is forbidden by most monotheistic religions, especially Judeo Christian monotheism.

 

chronicle.uchicago.edu/050714/doctorsfaith.shtml

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

You're joking, right? Atheism is not a cult. It is simply the disbelief in any god or gods. I also disbelieve in unicorns. Does that make me a member of a cult?

 

Sorry, chum, but the whole concept of angels is connected to the belief in fairies. You see, it is called the belief in the supernatural. And you can add your devil to it, also, since he is supposedly a "fallen angel." It's all craziness. It's what the human mind conceived of to try to explain things it could not comprehend. Humans started belief systems and created mythical creatures. They do not exist, the same as the 700 pound green fart that floats over your head.

 

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

You wrote:

"Atheism is not a cult. It is simply the disbelief in any god or gods. I also disbelieve in unicorns. Does that make me a member of a cult?"

 

Atheism effectively deifies nature by transferring the creative, godlike powers, properties and qualities (that theists attribute to God), to nature or matter.

So atheism makes a god of nature, which means it is similar to pagan, naturalist religions.

 

Theists attribute the creation of everything in the universe to a supernatural cause.

Atheists attribute the creation of everything in the universe to a natural cause.

So the theist God is a supernatural, causal entity or creator, and the atheist god is a natural, causal entity or creator.

They are both religious viewpoints.

 

Not believing in unicorns doesn't require any alternative belief, whereas not believing in a supernatural first cause, demands belief in a natural first cause. So the comparison with unicorns is stupid.

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

Nice try, but you are wrong (as usual). Atheism does not deify anything. That's the point. There are no deities.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

 

Of course atheists aren't going to admit it.

 

But if you believe that nature or a natural first cause is the originator of everything, you credit nature (or matter) with a godlike status. You simply replace the Creator God of theism with Mother Nature or an all-powerful god of nature.

 

Religion really is based on worshipping that which is greater than ourselves - worshipping that which is the cause of our existence. If you believe that cause is nature, then you are a nature worshipper and naturalism is your religion.

It is all based on belief, because you cannot prove that nature is an all powerful creator.

In fact, the evidence from natural law and scientific principles rules it out.

So atheism is an entirely faith-based creed, it has nothing to do with science, logic or reason. It has all the hallmarks of a religion, and if we compare it to pagan naturalism, there is very little to distinguish it.

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budderflyman (atheist) reply to Truth in science (theist)

 

I like the way evangelists twist words and definitions to suit their needs. I also like the way they try to figure out the universe starting with the Bible. And then they attack science and nature and those who live their lives by science and nature (rather than by some weird interpretation of life that fits a religious point of view).

 

Stop trying to tell me how I think. I don't want some knuckle dragger interpreting my life for me, thank you. And don't tell me I am anti-science when it is you who cannot bring himself to admit that evolution is the cornerstone of biology.

 

I am finished playing your stupid games. Go troll someone else.

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Truth in science (theist) reply to budderflyman (atheist)

You wrote:

"And then they attack science and nature and those who live their lives by science and nature"

 

I don't attack science I defend it against dogmatic atheists who undermine it with their anti-scientific fantasy of a natural, first cause. And I don't attack nature, I simply recognise its limitations defined by natural laws and scientific principles. In fact I support and defend the laws of nature against attacks on them by atheists, who see them as an obstacle to their ideology.

 

And atheists don't live their lives by science, they are quite willing to distort and pervert scientific principles simply to suit their ideological beliefs. There is no scientific evidence for the atheist cult. It is based purely on faith in the godlike powers of nature to do or create everything, regardless of the fact that logic, natural laws and science, all say the opposite.

 

You wrote:

"And don't tell me I am anti-science when it is you who cannot bring himself to admit that evolution is the cornerstone of biology."

 

Progressive evolution is the greatest mistake and greatest hoax in history, it is destined for the dustbin of history when the public finally realise how they have been hoodwinked and treated as fools.

SEE: The Great Mistake.

www.flickr.com/photos/101536517@N06/15650423453

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Conspired against, by the wind, the rain, and the sun.

 

Five exposure Fusion image.

Existence and Inexistence

 

2013.7.9

  

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everything's a living being, perpetuating in its own way.